As we begin to look at these words of the Apostle Paul, we begin to wonder what the apostle meant by seeing through a glass darkly. I think that it is good sometime to consider what Paul did not say. He did not say that we couldn’t see through a glass darkly.

In 1st Corinthians chapter 13:9 through 12, he says; For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face-to-face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.

The thought is that the love of God never faileth, and that we are able to perceive, and to understand this in part. We can see and understand this in part because we can see through a glass darkly. It does not say that we see a glass darkly, but rather that we can see through a glass darkly. This is telling us that we are able to see from here, all the way into eternity dimly by an eye of faith. The Apostle in verse 13 says; and now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity.

We read in 1st John chapter 3:1,and 2; Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Son of God. It seems as if John could not comprehend of how great the love of God is in our lives, just to understand that we are the Sons of God. That is, God has testified to our hearts and souls that we are a child of grace. He goes on in verse 2 and says; Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Oh! I wish that I had the ability to explain this text of scripture to its fullness.

I cannot tell you of all the details of what heaven is going to be like, but we are able to see through a glass darkly, we are able to see that heaven is a place to be desired. It is a place that God has prepared from the foundation of the world to house all the children of God. It will be a place of Perfection, a place of Holiness, a consecrated place that God has prepared for all those that love him. It is going to be a place where sin cannot enter, but a place where sinners will dwell in Holiness, as without sin forever and forever. It is a place reserved for us by God, for all of those whom Christ justified when he hung there on the cross.

We do not know what we are going to be like, but we know that we are going to be like him. We are going to be changed; we are going to go from sin to Holiness. Job says that all his appointed days, I will wait till my change come, because he knows that his Redeemer Liveth. Sometimes we look at death in the wrong light. We think of the grave as a cold dark place, when we should be thinking that the grave is just a place where the body will await until Christ comes again with his Holy angels to redeem our bodies from the tomb. Paul says that the time of my departure is at hand. The word departure carries the thought as if there is a ship in the harbour with its anchors holding it fast. Then the anchors are raised and the ship sails out to a different location. When death comes, the anchors are raised and we will change locations. Our decaying bodies will be changed into everlasting bodies, and our location changed to an everlasting location, and we shall be like Jesus Christ.

Oh! How happy we ought to be that we are able to see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. For now we know in part, but then shall we know, even as we are known. I think I can understand what the song-writer was seeing when he wrote the song; What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, and I look upon his face, the one who saved me by his grace. When he takes me by the hand, and leads me through the promise land. What a day, glorious day that will be.