John Funk

The Face Of God

As a Christian, have you ever wondered what the face of God is like? Have you ever wondered what it will be like to gaze into the face of your Creator or if you will even be allowed to do so? As Christians we al live with the expectation that idea that this life that we live will end at some point or better yet, that the Rapture will happen and as a result, we will not experience death. Then, following the departure from this existence, we will end up before God to give an account of our lives. That account, for the believer, will be given at the Bema Seat or will be a judgment of awards for those things that we did during our lives which had eternal significance. When we are standing before God, will we see His face? Or will it be hidden from us? On the other hand, what is the face of God?

In incredible accounts of God’s dealing with man, we see Moses encounter the living God in a very real and physical way. The first instance where Moses stood before God and actually spoke with Him was the encounter with the burning bush at Mount Horeb.

Exodus 3:1-6

** New International Version

King James Version

3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up." 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"And Moses said, "Here I am." 5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

When God called out to Moses and Moses turned aside, Moses took off his sandals and turned his face because he was afraid to look upon the face of God.

Later, when Moses was to ascend Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, God commanded him to keep the people at a distance. If the people even touched the mountain, they would die. Death was the price for gazing upon the face of God.

Exodus 19:16-22

** New International Version

King James Version

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, 19 and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. 20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them."

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

Finally, Moses was allowed to gaze upon the presence of God but was not allowed to look at His face. Moses, considered to be the friend of God, could not, in his physical humanity, look upon the face of God and live.

Exodus 33:7-23

** New International Version

King James Version

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. 11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. 12 Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." 14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" 17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." 18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." 19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." 21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. 8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. 10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. 12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. 13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. 14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. 17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Throughout the Old Testament and also in the New Testament, we see no account in which man physically gazes upon the face of God or do we? I respectfully submit that with the advent of the coming of Jesus Christ, man gazes upon the face of God. While many assert that God’s face has never been seen, I believe that God’s face was made manifest with the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross at Calvary. That one event provided something that the actual physical view of God’s face never would – it provided eternal life through God’s grace. God’s grace is His face.

Did you know that the word “grace” is only used eight times in the Old Testament but is then used 123 times in the New Testament (according to the NIV)? The primary definition of the word in the Old Testament is “well-favored” while the primary definition of the word in the New Testament is “acceptable or worthy.” Typically, as Christians, we speak of “grace” as “unmerited favor.”

The Book of John attests to the presence of Jesus as the creating force when time began. (See John 1:1). Later, in this same chapter, the concept of grace is addressed and is directly attributed to the personage of Jesus Christ.

John 1:14-18

** New International Version

King James Version

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Prior to the coming of the Son of God, man lived under the law which was given through Moses as we saw in Exodus. With the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, man is no longer governed by the law but rather is now living under a state of grace or unmerited favor occasioned by the life of Christ. (See Romans 6:14-15). Prior to the death of Christ on the cross, it was only necessary that man believe in Who Jesus said He was. Proof of this revelation is evidenced through the testimony of Peter and the testimony of the thief on the cross. (See Mark 8:29 and Luke 23:42).

(Parenthetical note: It is interesting that this same set of verses also testify to the fact that no one has ever seen God; rather, it was the role of Jesus Christ to declare Him or to make Him known. (v. 18).)

The Bible clearly states that it is through grace that man is saved; it is not through his works. This grace, once again, exercised through faith, is what shows the face of God.

Ephesians 2:8-10

** New International Version

King James Version

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So where do works fit in with God’s purpose for life? That question is answered in verse 10 of the above passage. While grace shows the face of God to the believer, works show the face of God to the world. Works were prepared in advance for us to do because we are God’s workmanship. The purpose of workmanship and hence, the works themselves, is to evidence the existence and talent of the creator. A direct analogy can be drawn between God as the Creator and an artist as a creator. Both have works and those works evidence the creator. Therefore, we as the created are to do good works because that is what the world may see that gives evidence of the being of the Creator. Otherwise, good works performed for any other purpose are but “filthy rags.” (See Isaiah 64:6). This rationale is what gives rise to the saying that “You are the only Jesus that some people may ever see.”

So, for the believer, the face of God appears when the gift of grace arises or better perhaps, when the person seeking God realizes that God is real as is His gift of salvation. For the non-believer, I do not believe that the face of God will ever appear until it is too late.

I referred to the Judgment of the Bema Seat earlier which is the judgment of rewards for the believers because of what they have done on this earth in furtherance of God’s purposes. There is another judgment which will take place but this time it will take place for the unbeliever. That judgment is the “Great White Throne Judgment” and is a judgment of guilt or innocence. There too the face of God will be made manifest but I do not believe that unbelievers will physically see the face of God. Without accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as in their place for their sins, proclaiming Him Lord and Savior and repenting of those sins, the unbeliever is lost for all eternity.

The word “lost” unfortunately does not fully convey the full import of what takes place; the reality is that the unbeliever is lost, i.e. never to be found, forever and will be consigned to hell for all eternity. Consignment to hell is a never-ending existence of torment through fire and separation and I believe, one that is lived in full sight for the unbeliever of the paradise that they can never enjoy. (See Luke 16:19-27).

As a final note, the face of God is there for all to see if they are only willing to open their eyes. Good works through the efforts of Christian people everywhere give evidence of the existence of God as do the things of this world.

There was a time when man did not see much less understand the underpinnings of life as contained in a simple cell but with our increase in knowledge, we now know that a human cell is not just protoplasm. A very “simple” cell is anything but simple. DNA is the blueprint for life. The components of the cell are still being unraveled and will be for a very long time.

The theory of evolution stating that man eventually developed from a combination of chemicals into a simple cell into eventually human sapien is ludicrous. The Big Bang Theory cries out for the existence of God as do the concepts of entropy and statistical evidence. However, man continues to do everything he can to cast doubt upon the existence of God. He wants to demean those who believe in God Almighty and decries His very existence. God’s face is there for all to see so you have to ask “Why do so many people want to disparage any such belief?” The reason is that Satan is alive and well on Planet Earth and God willing, we are well into the end times when everything will finally come to an end.

Read the paper. Prophecy is unfolding before our very eyes. We are privileged to see God’s face made manifest each and every day. God’s face? It’s everywhere. Just look around. You can’t miss it.

** A modern language quote is provided for readability together with the accompanying KJV version which is believed by many to be a more accurate representation of the original scripture.

Comments or questions may be directed to the author at jrhett58@yahoo.com.