There is a paradox in the universe: the most beautiful thing cannot actually be seen…yet. 

In Psalm 27:4, David writes:
One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple (NIV).

Our Lord is, by far, the most beautiful thing in existence. But other than David expressing his desire to spend all the days of his life gazing on the Lord’s beauty, how do we know this is true? 

I have heard several firsthand accounts of those who have visited Heaven during near-death experiences. (Lee Strobel documents many of them in his book, The Case for Heaven.) They commonly share an experience of stunning and indescribable brilliance, beauty, and light, with ranges of colors unseen on Earth. I can’t wait.

But since most of us aren’t planning to go to Heaven in the near future, how do we experience the Lord’s beauty in the here and now? 

I would suggest that we experience His beauty through the many stories of healing, transformation, and redemption we get to be a part of as we follow Him.  

It is nothing short of beautiful when:

• A student has a breakthrough in learning to read or conquering a math challenge
• Our Spirit-led connection and classroom culture helps a student with prior behavior issues finally feel loved, valued, and successful
• We forgive (or ask for forgiveness from) a parent, colleague, or administrator and experience a reconciliation
• God brings revival to a student’s family, and it transforms a classroom or even an entire school

As the Executive Director, I have the great privilege of seeing these beautiful stories play out in the lives of educators on a regular basis. Celebrate with me this testimony from one of our members:

I am so blessed to be a part of Christian Educators and to have been transformed by the truths as relayed through your direction to members…The Lord has used you all to anchor my foundation even stronger to Himself and to help me cast off what is not of Him…The biggest blessing is that He has completely changed my workplace and my relationship with my principal…I now have twenty colleagues who have identified themselves as believers and gather with me monthly for fellowship and encouragement. If you had asked me before if I even thought this was possible, I would have said no way.

That is beautiful. I hope this issue about beauty inspires you to sit and gaze upon the beauty of our Lord all of the days of your life.