Purity
"And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."1 John 3:3
1. Purity invokes the presence of God. "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart" Ps. 24:3-4
The other day I read a disturbing article that indicated that intimacy with God is available to everyone. I wasn't troubled over the "technical truth" of such a statement. Indeed, many of God's invitations are open to all. However, my concern is that people understand the "conditional" nature of the majority of God's promises, and in the article I read no clarification was given.
"Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place?..." Everybody? Anybody who feels like it? No. Only those who have "clean hands and a pure heart."
"He (God) is intimate with the upright."Proverbs 3:32
Intimacy with God, extreme closeness, is reserved for those who walk "uprightly" before Him. Yes, this closeness is technically available to everyone, but only those who fulfill the conditions that God sets forth. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save; neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2).
The love of God is unconditional. Extreme closeness with God is reserved for those in the process of "purifying themselves."
2. Purity releases power. "The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His" (2 Chronicles 16:9). The strong support of the Lord. Do you know it? Have you felt it?
There are a variety of ways to live life. Some are so intent on avoiding God that He gives them over to a "depraved mind" (see Romans 1;28). Others remain separated from God because of an unwillingness to repent of their sin (see Isaiah 59:2). Incredibly, God "hides Himself" from entire cities because of "all their wickedness" (see Jeremiah 33:5).
And then there are the few (see Matthew 7:13-14). The few who live life in accordance with the empowering presence of God. The strong support and good hand of the Lord (see Psalm 25:12; 32:8) are upon them every day. God blesses them so that they, in turn, can be a source of greater blessing to other (see Genesis 12;1-3).
So, what's it gonna' be? The strong support of the Lord? Or, do your own thing and get what you get? The difference? Uhhh, well, uhhh....unspeakable.*
*It's "unspeakable" in the following sense: It's like trying to explain "sound" to a deaf person.
3. Purity produces pleasure. Generally, American sexuality is radically cursed. "...The curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 11:28). What God calls sin, we Americans call "sexual preference." What the Bible calls "the wages of sin" (see Romans 6:23), we Americans call disease and "dysfunction."
Given the importance of sex to so many, it's curious that more of us don't take a look at the Creator's manual:
"Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth...
Let her_________ satisfy you at all times, be exhilarated always with herlove." Proverbs 5:18-19
Wow! The promises of purity - blessing, satisfaction...exhilaration! For those who don't believe, I suppose these GodThoughts may as well be written in Aramaic. On the other hand, anyone who has ever honored the Lord in this area of their life for say...a few decades...let's just say that ..."Purity produces pleasure."
"The secrets of the Lord are for those that fear Him" (Psalm 25:14).
CONCLUSION
"And everyone who has this hope fixed on Himpurifies himself, just as He is pure."1 John 3:3
The lifestyle of the disciple is one of purity. No, it's not a magical, mystical thing that just kind of "happens" when you become a Christian. You have to work for it. You have to want it. You have to discipline yourself to attain it (see Hebrews 12:11). It takes sacrifice, commitment and perseverance. It's called, "crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24).
In review, here are three FABULOUS FRUIT that result from a lifestyle committed to purity:
1. Purity invokes the presence of God. "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart" (Psalm 24:3-4).
2. Purity releases power. "The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His" (2 Chronicles 16:9).
3. Purity produces pleasure. In an American world ever-increasingly ruled by the media and sex. We would do well to pay a lot more attention to the "Owner's Manual." “The Bible”!
Author Unknown
