ONE DAY IN HEAVEN WHEN WE SEE JESUS AS HE IS
BLAISE PASCAL was
one of the greatest minds in
history. His work on probability, experiments with the vacuum and atmospheric
pressure and invention of the first calculating machine established him as a
scientist of the highest order. The elegance of his prose moved Voltaire to
proclaim him the finest writer in France. But what he will most be remembered
for are his Pensèes, a collection of thoughts that, had he lived long enough,
were to form the basis of a defense of the Christian faith.
After Pascal’s death, a piece of parchment was found sewn
into his clothing. It is the record of a decisive and ecstatic encounter he had
with God on the night on November 23,1654. What follows is a portion of what he
wrote.
Fire
"God of Abraham,
God of Isaac, God of Jacob," not of philosophers
and scholars. Certainty, certainty,
heartfelt, joy, peace.
God of Jesus
Christ.
God of Jesus
Christ…
Joy, joy, joy,
tears of joy…
"And this is
life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom thou hast
sent."
Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ…
Sweet and total
renunciation…
Everlasting joy in
return for one day’s effort on earth.
I will not forget
thy word. Amen
The god of Pascal’s times was an abstract
noun, merely part of the intellectual and theoretical landscape, a principle to
ponder – not the consuming Fire of the Bible, the Father of Jesus Christ (see
Hebrews 12:29; John 14:9). The god of "philosophers and scholars"
is something one thinks about; the God of Scripture is someone one meets. And
this God is much more than interesting and impressive. To meet God face to face
is to know "Certainty, certainty, heartfelt, joy, peace…Joy, joy, joy,
tears of joy."
What Pascal saw of God is breathtakingly
lovely and wonderful. But not everyone has Pascal’s experience, and one can’t
hardly read of it and not ache with envy. Nevertheless, what Pascal glimpsed
that night awaits all who hope in Christ. One Day, in heaven, when we see him
as he is, we too will be as he is, gloriously so (see 1 John 3:2; Romans
8:18-21). In fact, to see him as he is, is heaven. We pray in that hope,
knowing that although we don’t see him now, we are still filled with "an
inexpressible and glorious joy." For we are receiving the gold of our
faith, the salvation of our souls (1Peter 1:8-9).
BLAISE PASCAL (1623-1662
In Christ,
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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