Purity.
If that word is foreign to you, picture this. You go to the local dealership to buy your first car. You've been dreaming of this day for years--now it's finally a reality. You've had your eye on a shiny midnight blue sports car. Leather interior. GPS. Loaded interior and six airbags. 0-60 in .3 seconds.
Bomb car, right?
Here's what you don't know. This car has been used in six bank robberies, three dump runs and has been in multiple car accidents. The odometer has been rolled back illegally so many times that you have no idea how many miles there actually are on the vehicle. That leather that looks so nice? It's actually genuine rat hide. The GPS? A magic 8 ball.
Sound familiar? Let's switch the car analogy to the girlfriend/boyfriend scenario. You meet that "special someone" at a party. They seem amazing on the outside, but underneath, there's a whole lot of wreckage.
Or maybe you're the one with the past. If so, I can relate. My life before surrender to Christ was full of soul-scarring choices.
I had rat-pelt bucket seats.
The Bible speaks of a married couple as "two becoming one". One flesh. When you have sex with someone, you become "one" in the spirit with that person. When it doesn't work out, it's like tearing flesh--blood, scar tissue and pain are left behind. Every time you "hook up" with a new person, you're doing the same thing. After a while, you've got a whole lot of scabby scar tissue and hurt built up.
Imagine bringing your huge suitcase filled with guilt, anger, pain and broken promises to your wedding night. Is it any wonder that so few marriages work out--even Christian marriages?
Here is the Dictionary.com definition of purity: freedom from anything that contaminates, debases or pollutes. Freedom from guilt or evil; innocence. Physical chastity; virginity.
Notice that the word freedom comes up a few times. That's a promise from God. Purity equals freedom. Freedom from guilt, freedom from STDs (including sexually transmitted HIV and AIDS), freedom from the pain that comes from having premarital sex and freedom from fear of an unwanted pregnancy.
It also means having the freedom to be friends first, freedom to find out what you have in common with your crush before you go too far and the freedom to follow your own dreams and passions without being hindered by a complicated, emotionally-charged sexual relationship.
God doesn't want us to be pure to punish us, but to bless us.
He wants your wedding night and all of the nights thereafter to be amazing explorations of the gift that He has given us through marital sex.
Here's the good news--God is our redeemer!! If you surrender to Him and give your life over to Him by accepting salvation through Jesus Christ, you will be washed clean--sparkly, shiny, new car smelling clean!!
In addition to recognizing the futility of doing things your own way and asking Jesus into your heart, get rid of your old keepsakes from "ex's" and start fresh. Ask God to sever all soul ties with all of those with whom you've become "one."
It's never too late to start on the road to purity. Try it, with God's help, and see where it leads you. I think you'll be amazed!
Based on Romans 12:1-2 say out loud,
I do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but I am transformed by the renewing of my mind. Then I will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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