What Does God See When He Looks At You?

Exodus 28:29
29 “So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually."

God doesn't think the way we think nor does He see things the same way.  He most definitely doesn't see us the way we see ourselves.  In His eyes, once you have been washed by the precious blood of Jesus, He sees you in perfection of His Son.  In His eyes, you and I are completely clean, inside and out!  

But the Holy Spirit isn't content merely to just tell us that; He paints us a picture in the description of the breastplate of the High Priest.

Have you ever heard from the pulpit that, though  God loves you, He is saddened by your lack of trust in or commitment to Him?  Have you been told that He comes to you while you are worshiping Him in church, for instance, and whispers that you "you're not being real with Him" or that "you're just going through the motions?"   Well, I have news for you:  All those "teachings" that have YOU LOOKING AT YOU as if you haven't somehow measured up ARE NOT FROM GOD.

Jesus NEVER EVER makes you feel less, condemned or that you've somehow "fallen short."

Now, who do we all know that's all about YOU getting your eyes off of Jesus and onto YOU?  Who loves to throw thoughts and teachings of condemnation at you?  The accuser of the brethren, that's who.  The devil. YOU looking at YOU is a form of self-righteousness.

So, what does God see when He looks at you?  The Breastplate of Judgment of the high priest of ancient Israel expertly answers that question.  It will put to rest all those "teachings" or thoughts of self doubt.  The Holy Spirit goes into great detail to describe it so that we will have a blessed assurance of our right standing before God.

It was the MOST EXPENSIVE accessory of all of his garments. The 12 precious stones mounted on it, one for each of the 12 tribes, were of the finest quality on earth and far beyond price.

Every single bit of gold, silver, precious metals and gems that were given to the Israelites by their Egyptian neighbors when the left Egypt for good were utilized in crafting everything according to what God commanded them on Mt. Sinai. The night they left their land of slavery, the wealth of the "world" (Egypt is a picture of the world) was literally thrown at their feet!  Back pay for those 400 years.  Not too shabby!

The stones were mounted in order of their encampment, not birth order as on the onyx stones on his shoulders. This is very significant.  Here's why.....
The onyx stones on his shoulders were identical in size, shape and setting. They paint the picture that all of us, from the newest Christian to the most seasoned believer, as being engraved, NOT WRITTEN, into each stone, eternally secure in Jesus.  They were mounted on his shoulders.  Shoulder speaks of "power." It means we all have equal access to His power.

But.....the gems on His heart, equally beautiful but different stones, individual cuts, say we are treated as individuals, each with different needs, all loved equally. 
12 individual, VERY PRECIOUS gems.

The uniqueness of each stone speaks of how Jesus loves and relates to us as individuals; He calls us all BY NAME.  Though it's true He loves everybody in the world, more importantly, HE LOVES YOU, His child!  He sees YOU as a PRECIOUS, PRICELESS GEM, complete in Christ.

The first stone was "sardius," a red stone we would call a ruby.   Names being engraved into each as opposed to merely written on it's surface speaks of the permanent nature of our salvation.  Yes, ETERNAL SECUITY.  It's real!
Jasper was the last stone mentioned. Jasper is a clear stone, either closely related to or a type of diamond. Remember all this for later
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The message to us today is that, first and foremost, we need to see ourselves and our fellow believers, regardless of church affiliation, race, country of origin; whether they agree with us or not, as PRECIOUS GEMS ON JESUS' HEART.  That's how God see us; that how we need to see us.

Why doc God chose gems?  Because gems are buried deep in the earth. The "miner" {Jesus} has to diligently search for them with great purpose, dig them out of the "dirt," wash them off (with His blood) and the Master Jeweler must cut and shape each one to bring out it's true, inner beauty.

The different, precise cuts on each gem are the trials we go through that mold and shape us.

God is light, according to scripture.  What happens when a brilliant light shines on a beautifully cut precious gem? It shines with fiery brilliance! That is how we look to God! He sees us as beautiful, brilliant, priceless gems on Jesus' heart:  Complete, forever beautiful, shining, precious, secure!  He not only isn't the angry or disappointed He is so often portrayed from the pulpit, with all believers HE IS WELL-PLEASED!

Now, remember the first stone was RUBY and the last was a JASPER (diamond)?  Let's turn to Revelation 4 vs 3. It says that there was sitting on the throne (of God) One Whose appearance was like "a JASPER and a SARDIUS stone."
Jasper is a very clear stone, a type of diamond. It is mentioned first; then sardius, or ruby, in reverse of the order of the way they are placed on the breastplate.  Why?

Because Jesus, the pure, clear, sinless Son of God, {jasper/diamond} came down and shed His Red blood. {Ruby}. For believers, it is just the opposite:  We start out stained with sin, must go through the red blood--the ruby--to perfectly cleansed within to become clean--Jasper (diamonds).

All of this perfectly portrays 1 Corinthians 13. God wants us to see ourselves and each other through the lens Jasper/crystal of love.  That is how those outside of Christ will know us:  BY OUR LOVE.......not our "doctrine."

So the next time you wonder how YOU look to God, remember the Breastplate of Judgment:  He sees ALL believers as Bright, Sparkling Gems on Jesus' heart.  That, Church, is what God REALLY SEES when He looks at you!