Small decisions can have a big impact for good on many peoples’ lives.”
–Troy C. Wagstaff (.44 Caliber Preacher)
“Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.”
–Psalm 24:3-4 (NLT)
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“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 (KJV)
Oh my, this is a tough one. Ponder a minute before going on. Pure in heart. What does that mean? Is my heart pure? Oh my… When we look at the meaning of the term “pure” it makes it even harder. The Greek is katharos and it means clean, washed clean, purged of chaff, to drink unadulterated with water or metal with no tinge of alloy; it means to be entirely guileless; and the expression of inward purity is there–the quality of those who have been cleansed from moral defilement. Thomas Watson states, “Morality does but wash a man, grace changes him.” To continue, the word means “heart-rightness” rather than “rule-rightness”; singlemindedness with its reference pointing to sincerity. “Freedom from defilement and divided affection,” states Arthur Pink, “it is sincerity, genuineness, and singleness of heart.
Oh, Lord, how can I keep my heart pure? I understand part of this, being cleaned and washed, for it is the blood of Christ, but then as I go through life I want to keep a pure heart. If you have noticed in our study that the Beatitudes reflect a process of sanctification. Our life is to be pure as John Stott relates, “The pure in heart have their whole lives, public and private, transparent before others. Their very heart–including their thoughts and motives–is pure, unmixed with anything devious, ulterior, or base.” See purity stands diametrically opposed to whatever defiles. Read the rules of the tabernacle. Yes, we are not under that law, but understand the reasoning behind those laws–purity. Do not meet with God without having a pure heart. “Blessed in the man whose motives are always entirely unmixed, for that man shall see God.” (William Barclay) That is why Paul tells us that we can not be mixed with Belial, and John states that we cannot be part of the world system.
Let me remind you here that we are speaking of perfectionism. If we tend to lean in that direction for sure legalism can seep in. The Pharisees looked to external purity, forgetting the heart. We are to look inwardly and from the heart will flow an expression of gratitude and love towards God. John writes, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, NIV) We are reminded that we are not holy in seeking God, but after we are born again we are holy because we have found HIm. Watson states, “A pure soul is cast into the mold of holiness. Holiness is a blood that runs in his veins.”
One more thought this morning. Paul declares that we are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Where was the heart or foundation of the Temple located? It was in the holy of holies.” If we are the “temple” then our hearts most certainly ought to be holy. Peter tells us, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:15-16, NIV) No, try to be holy. Or, be holy if it fits your agenda. Or, in my liberty I can choose how to be holy. No! We are to be holy in all we do, for He is holy. Whom do you serve? You must be free from ulterior motives in your service. Why do you do what you do? If the heart is holy, our affections will be, our duties will be. It is not easy, and Barclay says, “To examine one’s own motives is a daunting and a shaming thing, for there are few things in this world that even the best of us do with completely unmixed motives.”
Before taking communion we should examine ourselves. Check the purity of attitude, motives, and actions. “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28, NIV) Look in the mirror, the spiritual mirror of the Word of God and we will find that we do not measure up. “The truth is that one of the most conclusive evidences that we do possess a pure heart is the discovery and consciousness of the remaining impurity that continues to plague our hearts.” (Arthur Pink) Our prayer should be as that of David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NKJV)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray:
See if there be some wicked way in me:
Cleanse me from ev’ry sin, and set me free.”
–J. Edwin Orr