I suspect everybody wants to have it all when they’re young… Maybe a man shouldn’t have it when he’s young. It robs him of something, giving him all he can have when he’s too young to know what he’s got.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Man From the Broken Hills)

       So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
                    –2 Timothy 2:22 (ESV)
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          “Oh! to be like Thee!  
          Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.”
               –Thomas O. Chisholm

Last week we looked in our study on the Beatitudes signs of an impure heart.  Phillips translates Matthew 5:8, this way, “Happy are the utterly sincere, for they will see God.”  Sincerity in its completeness.  When we sincerely want God’s image to be our image, when we want Him stamped “deep on our hearts” then we are utterly sincere.  So how do we become, and remain pure?    
    Psalm 32:2 reminds us, “Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.” (NIV)  The pure heart, one with no deceit in it.  It is sincere, and one way to think about it, the heart breathes after purity.  Sin is vile and foul to the pure in heart, and they refuse to entertain it at all.  They do not even want the hint of sin to be around them.  They abhor sin and will avoid the appearance of evil.
    Separation is a key, as we have already discussed earlier.  To be separate from evil is to have a pure heart.  We prepare ourselves and guard our hearts by watching our steps, our actions, our mouths.  With a pure heart there will be outward signs, one of which is a deep reverence for the things of God.  Paul reminds us, “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1, NIV)  There are things for us to be doing.  It is not magical, but it takes effort and discipline.  No, it is not self-flagellation, but a desire to be like God.
     Where do we start?  With the Word of God.  We must look often into the Word of God.  Sometimes it might be a brief check as we leave the house, other times, we must spend time in front of the mirror of God’s Word.  Thomas Watson declares that, “The Word is both a looking-glass to show us the spots of our souls–and a laver to wash them away!”  We have already been made pure (justification) by the blood of Christ, but we should never forget that we should often bathe in the Word of God.  
     Faith!  Faith is always one of the key elements in any part of the Christian’s walk.  We read in Acts, “And made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” (15:9, NKJV)  Faith helps us purify our hearts.  We walk by faith, we work by faith, we serve by faith, we sleep by faith–in other words, our life should be marked by a life of faith.  Then we breathe after the Holy Spirit.  As Chisholm wrote, “Stamp Thine own image…”.  The image of Christ, or the image of self as we walk through this world.  Do not be close to the world, that will do nothing but tarnish the heart, not purify it.  “Beware of the society of the wicked,” warns Thomas Watson.  Yet, so many seek the thrills, the haunts, and the seeming excitement of the places of the world.  Walk, my friend, with those who are pure, not with those who are sordid, not with those who would sully your heart.
          O to be like Thee!  Blessed Redeemer,
          This is my constant longing and prayer;
          Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
          Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
T.O. Chisholm suggests that to be like Christ we must forfeit earth’s treasures.  Not just forfeit them, but “gladly” do it.  A pure heart–stay away from ungodly people, stay away from the stench and stain of evil, and then breathe in the freshness of the Holy Spirit and walk with those who are themselves pure in heart.

Remember, God watches over us, even in the hardest times. We all have our burdens.”
                    –David Fitz-Gerald  (First Drive)

       “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”
                    –Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
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Today I have a doctor’s appointment.  It is not my favorite thing to do, but at my season in life it is almost a necessity.  When I look at those sitting in the waiting room, my mercy, some of them are in bad shape.  Their bodies are wracked with pain, aches, and the like.  Some are crooked, bent over, and can hardly walk.  That’s not the worst of it.  I see on their faces the lack of hope, the melancholy of “what’s the use” or “help me live just a little longer.”  Life is fleeing from them and there is nothing they can do to hold on to it, except maybe a few more pills, some medication, some kind of treatment or the knife of surgery.  
     I think of the invalid at the pool, who in bitterness replied to Jesus, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.  While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” (John 5:7, NIV)  Heavy-laden, sick, unable to barely care for himself, much less make it to the pool in time.  Angry at life, angry at others, angry at his condition, and get this, he believes in the superstition of the troubled waters in the pool.  He doesn’t even know that the Great Physician is standing in front of him asking him questions.
     To gaze back over the waiting room, I wonder how many have had the opportunity to hear the voice of Jesus.  Sometimes I can pick out a person who has a genuine smile, not one that’s forced.  My Grandma had severe pain, however it brought to her a closer relationship with Christ.  Oh, she would moan at times, but she would always end it saying something regarding her heavenly Father.  She would gain strength to carry her through, and her hope would grow even brighter.  St. John of the Cross said, “For the virtue and strength of the soul grows and is confirmed by trials and patience.”
     The words of Jesus should give us comfort, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)    St. John of the Cross tells us, “Better it is to be heavy-laden and near one that is strong than relieved of one’s load and near one that is weak.  When thou art heavy-laden, thou art near to God, who is thy strength and is with them that are in trouble.  When thou art relieved, thou art near but to thyself, who are thine own weakness.”  
     Take away the burden, and will you remember the strength you received from Christ?  I ask, how many lepers who were healed came back to thank Jesus for their healing?  Then, how many when the burden is relieved continue to walk in total communion with the Lord.  Perhaps there is a deeper reason, then for the burden.  “The soul that is alone and without a master, and has virtue, is like the burning coal that is alone.  It will grow colder rather than hotter.” (St. John of the Cross)   Burdens and pains with the Master, or trying to make it on your own with the help of pills?  I recall the old song:
          “Days are fill with sorrow and care,
          Hearts are lonely and drear;
          Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
          Jesus is very near.”
                –John M. Moore
     It is time for me to leave, I have my diagnosis and prognosis, and any other thing that might have been given me in the halls of medicine.  I don’t worry or complain, I’ve seen the looks of those in despair.  I know I have a Great Physician watching over me, no matter what any doctor might say.  I used to really dread these trips, but now, they make me thankful that I have a loving Father who cares for me.  And no matter what–get that!  No matter what, He will be with me no matter the ailment, burden, or prognosis.

He chuckled at how people are so easily convinced of new practices.”