Eye Contact With The King

Face-to-Face means face-to-face.

Making eye contact is difficult for me.

According to the internet, I have all kinds of disorders.

Whether that’s true or not, I have to work hard to focus on making eye contact with the people I’m speaking with. This is in almost every type of conversation. When I’m on a stage with hundreds of people listening, I don’t like making eye contact with anyone. When I’m across the table with a person over coffee, I don’t like making eye contact.

This is most prevalent when I’m talking. If I’m sharing my mind, then it’s almost guaranteed that my eyes are anywhere but in the direction of the other party’s eyes.

Without going into too much detail, this is a shame-based response for me.

Deep within, I feel it: “I am unworthy to look into their eyes.”

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit have carried me a long way from where I started, and I’m certain will continue to make me holy in mind, body, and soul.

But this has got me reflecting…

What will it be like when I make eye contact with the King? You know, Jesus.

One day we’ll behold Him in the fullness of His glory.

The world has never known a love like the love of Christ. God is love. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the fullness of love. One day we will lay our eyes on Him in the fullness of His transcendent glory. He will shine brighter than a million suns, and we will be able to look at Him.

I’ve always imagined this moment would take place from afar.

I’ve assumed Jesus will be across the way, standing off in the distance, and from afar, I would marvel at the experience and worship Him from deep within a vast crowd. In my imagination, there’s a certain distance from Jesus that allows for safety. Isn’t that ironic and completely anti-Gospel?

I’ve almost imagined a heaven that allows me to experience the goodness of what heaven has to offer without experiencing the transcendental experience of drawing near the King. He’s the King, positioned on the throne, lighting up the world. He’s far off; I’m a participant in His glory.

Yet, that’s not the way it goes.

When John is describing what he is seeing in the book of Revelation, we get a startling description of what ultimate reality will be for all eternity. Mixed into that description in Revelation 21 & 22 is this simple statement:

“They will see his face…”
—Revelation 22:4a

It takes a certain closeness to see someone’s face.

But closeness is uncomfortable.

As I stated earlier, eye contact with anyone is uncomfortable for me. How much more so with the King who lights up the world? The one whose eyes are like a flame of fire. (Revelation 19:12) The one who judges the living and the dead.

Yet, in a uniquely unexplainable way, we’re drawn in.

We’re drawn in by the eyes of the one in whom we’re completely known, yet completely loved.

The difficulty of eye contact is—"If I look too long, they’ll be able to tell I’m a mess.”

But God says, “I know you’re a mess, and I love you more than you could imagine.”

We’re going to come face-to-face with the one who knows every corner inch of our being, and it will be terrifyingly wonderful.

But that’s one day, what about now?

If my ultimate reality forevermore is face-to-face with the risen King, then I want to spend my days seeking the face of said King. Why settle for less when I can have communion with the Trinity? It’s an already, but not fully realized, reality that we who are in Christ have eternal fellowship with the Trinity. Why not seek this fellowship with every effort we can give (effort that’s fully supplied to us by the Spirit of God)?

We have been invited into communion with the Trinity. Our ultimate reality is that we can pull up a chair at the table of the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We can eat, commune, laugh, sing, and have friendship.

Why not spend our days on earth seeking that ultimate reality?

I want to live every moment in light of two realities:

1. I will one day be face-to-face with God.

2. My next breath could be taken face-to-face with God.

There’s a certain level of seriousness that following God requires. Every action, word, and thought will be coming into judgment before this risen King. I want to live a life pleasing to Him. I know you do, too.

Face-To-Face with Glory
Face-To-Face with Love
Face-To-Face with Righteousness
Face-To-Face with Justice
Face-To-Face with the King of Kings
Face-To-Face with the Lover of Our Souls

There will be nothing more terrifying.
But there will also be nothing more wonderful.

See you next week,

—Brandon