Purity!

Purity

With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 MSG

God calls us to a life that is distinctly different from that of the world around us. God demands from us a standard that is different from that of the world's system. There is a constant battle going on everyday over our lives; good and evil are constantly fighting for control and whichever you feed will grow and take control. You have a choice on which one you will feed and which one you will kill. The challenge is this: the consequences of your choice will rule your life and determine your end. You had better be sure you are on the right path.

Today's extract reminds us again of our eternal journey. We are encouraged to make a clean beak from everything in our past that defiles us and keeps us distracted. We are encouraged to pay attention to both our internal and external state. We cannot keep an eye on eternity while struggling for relevance and importance from the things of this world. We cannot claim we are on the way to the promised land, while still distracted by the petty cares and worries of this world. We cannot combine forces with the world, do what it wants and still be fit for the kingdom of God. Like Lot's wife, we cannot look forward to what God has for us, while seeking to keep one eye on the things we have or cherish. There is always a choice to be made; a sorting of priorities and a rearrangement of values.

Our entire lives must be fit, holy and prepared for the Master's use. We were created to give God pleasure, and to worship him with our whole lives. When you understand what that means, you will know that God alone counts, nothing else does. Our lives will never amount to anything outside of God, and we will never fully realise our potential until we live as he desires - in holiness, purity and true worship.

The call goes out again today. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. It is not a negotiation; it is a command. It is not really an option; it is the essential ingredient for qualification for eternity. Without it, nothing else counts. His time of favour is here.