Contributor: Annie
Scriptures: Psalm 34:8 Isaiah 1:16-18 Revelation 7:14 Isaiah 52:11 Matthew 25:1-13 John 15:1-7 Philippians 4:8 The Book of Job
Many years ago, my mother-in-law visited and we toured the South Island of New Zealand with her. One memorable day, we took a coach trip to a place called The Milford Sound, a fjord, and it was stunningly beautiful. On the return trip, the coach stopped at the top of the mountain pass and, in the height of summer, we walked among the patches of snow and drank from a spring amongst the rocks. The taste was unbelievable, absolute purity, who knew water could taste so wonderful.
We are told to taste and see that the Lord is good, and the only comparison that comes anywhere near is that drink of pure, pure water.
The book of Isaiah begins with the dreadful state of the nation of Judah and yet he tells them, they can be white as snow, but only through complete obedience, turning back to the Living God, by cleansing themselves. Yet even then, we can never, because of our human frailty remain pure all the time. How can we aspire to be anywhere near this purity? Of ourselves, we cannot and no amount of cleaning ourselves will ever make us achieve that purity. It is only by being washed clean in the Blood of Christ that we can stand pure before God.
We are saved by God’s Grace alone, we can never earn our salvation by any works of our own, even keeping the law in all its minutiae failed. As we acknowledge our sin, recognise our impurity, only then can we fully repent, surrender to our LORD and lay down our life, allowing Him to sanctify us as we journey through this earth.
The books of the Old Testament prophets are such a treasure house for us as we walk thousands of years later. Isaiah 52 speaks of those who bear the vessels of the LORD needing to keep themselves pure. As I pondered this verse, the parable of the 10 virgins came to my mind. They were told to ensure that there was oil in their vessels so that they would be ready for the coming of the Bridegroom. We are the vessel of Holy Spirit, we carry the Presence of the Living God within us and we are told to set ourselves apart from the ways of the world, to “come out of her”. In no way does this mean physically isolating ourselves, how can it when Jesus tells us to visit the sick and imprisoned, to feed and clothe the homeless and hungry. If we are to be the Light He desires in this dark, sad world, we must be in it but not of it. By abiding in the Vine as Jesus told us to do, we are able to be kept pure by His Life within us.
We are surrounded by so many temptations and distractions but by following what Paul said to the Philippian church “to think on these things”, we can set ourselves apart. Purity is in Christ Jesus, the pure, spotless Lamb of God. By earnestly and diligently seeking His Face, picking up our cross daily and walking the path He lays before us, we can play our part in the work of sanctification He carries out in us.
Prayer:
Abba Father, give us a passion for Your Purity, a yearning to breathe Your new Life in each of us. Holy Spirit, breathe into our hearts as we seek You daily.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
A song that says it all
