From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
July 15 "But we see Jesus." Hebrews 2:9 Did your eyes ever see him? Do look into conscience--did
your eyes ever see Jesus? I do not mean your natural, your bodily eyes; but
the eye of faith, the eye of the soul. I will tell you what you have felt,
if you ever saw Jesus. Your heart was softened and melted, your affections
drawn heavenward, your soul penetrated with thankfulness and praise, your
conscience sprinkled with atoning blood, your mind lifted up above all
earthly things to dwell and center in the bosom of the blessed Immanuel. Do
you think, then, you have seen Jesus by the eye of faith? Then you have seen
the perfection of beauty, the consummation of pure loveliness; you have seen
the image of the invisible God; you have seen all the perfections and
glorious character of the Godhead shining forth in him who was nailed to
Calvary's tree. I am sure such a sight as that must melt the most
obdurate heart, and draw tears from the most flinty eyes; such a sight by
faith of the beauty and glory of the only-begotten Son of God must kindle
the warmest, holiest stream of tender affection. It might not have lasted
long. These feelings are often very transitory. The world, sin, temptation,
and unbelief soon work; infidelity soon assails all; the things of time and
sense soon draw aside; but while it lasted, such, in a greater or lesser
degree, were the sensations produced. Now, if you have ever seen Jesus by the eye of faith, and
ever had a tender affection going out toward him, you will see him in glory.
But you will never see him in glory, if you have not seen him in grace; you
will never see him eye to eye in the open vision of eternal bliss, unless
you have seen him now upon earth by the faith of God's elect in your heart.