6.18.2007

Fortress of Purity

"How can a young man keep his way pure?" Ps. 119:9-16 addresses the seemingly elusive quest for anyone who has an ounce of endorphins racing through their post-pubescent brain.
I've often wondered, 'What the heck does it mean to be "pure"?' This is a topic that comes up anytime a group of guys seeking to follow Jesus get together and talk about something more worth while than Fantasy Football or prime rib or the best uses of Gold Bond. But what is it that gives the male driven mind the long lasting fortress of a lifestyle of purity?
After reflecting on this passage recently, I discovered that the Hebrew word for "pure" is actually a root word meaning "to be transparent" and it is related to another word meaning "to be bright." I thought about this and realized, as a Spirit indwelled person our purpose is to reflect and reveal the person of Christ and in order to do this best we must be 'transparent.' In other words, we need to be who we truly are in Christ-a new creation, a heart that has been completely re-hauled. But when sin creeps into our lives this mucks up the transparency of our Spirit filled selves.
So, our motivation for purity should always be that we would be more "bright" in our reflection of our Savior and this is best seen when we're "transparent," when our lives are so infiltrated by the guidepost of the Word and awed by the sight of His transparency as seen in the life of Jesus, then the fortress of purity is strengthened.

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