The Way to Purity

I love a good murder mystery or thriller. The bad guy has to be really bad. My wife prefers her bad guys more real. She follows politics and watches Fox News.

Even as kids we love the Big Bad Wolf. I suspect that one of  the reason for our love of bad guys is our belief that God grades on the curve. It is comforting to know that there are men more evil than us out there.

Of course we know that God doesn’t grade on the curve.  Maybe not all that comes from our mouths are “evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” but there is plenty enough bad stuff in us to make us unacceptable to a Holy God.

His Word penetrates and shows us for what we are: sinners in need of a Savior. f I will take an honest look at myself, becoming fully aware of my so-called innocence and putting it to the test, I am very likely to have a rude awakening that what Jesus Christ said is true, and I will be appalled at the possibilities of the evil and the wrong within me.

The only thing that truly provides protection is the redemption of Jesus Christ. If I will simply hand myself over to Him, I will never have to experience the terrible possibilities that lie within my heart. Purity is something far too deep for me to arrive at naturally. But when the Holy Spirit comes into me, He brings into the center of my personal life the very Spirit that was exhibited in the life of Jesus Christ, namely, the Holy Spirit, which is absolute unblemished purity.

Only the Holy Spirit can “Shut my mouth” and extinquish the evil within.

Be blessed.

Nick