Purity. What's that?

Abstinence. Remaining a virgin until marriage. Not having a dirty mind. Those are all things that are, quite honestly, missing from today’s society. Whether watching t.v, surfing the Internet, listening to the radio or flipping through a magazine, sexual temptation is everywhere. It’s almost impossible to escape it in our current culture. Yet, as Christians, we are supposed to live a life of purity; a life set apart, a life that is different. Is that even possible in today’s world when the word “purity” is pretty much non-existent?

Whether single, in a relationship, or married for years, the struggle to be pure is a constant battle. Unfortunately, too many Christian men and women have not valued their purity and as a result, have given it away too easily. Marriages have fallen apart because of worldly temptation and infidelity. Far too many young people are having sex before marriage and as a result, end up in broken relationships and with unplanned pregnancies. It’s a sad reality that a majority of Christians have lost their worth, their integrity and are now feeling hopeless. The question is, are we too far gone? Have we crossed too many lines? Can we have a second chance?

If purity were left to today’s standards, then yes, we would be too far gone and we would all be living in a world of hopelessness. But because of Christ and his forgiving love, there is hope that purity can always be given a second chance. The Bible says in Romans 12:2, “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Making mistakes and messing up are all part of being a Christian, but the true test of purity, is if you “repent and remain in sin” or if you “repent and move on from sin.” Too many Christians make a mistake, ask for forgiveness, but then do it again! That isn’t true repentance. For example, in the Bible, David who was a liar, adulterer and murderer was also the same person the Lord said was a “man after God’s own heart.” Wait, what? How can a liar, adulterer AND a murderer be a man after God’s heart? David certainly wasn’t pure and he acted on his temptation by having Bathsheba’s husband sent to the front lines to be killed, so he could marry her. Then, if that wasn’t bad enough, David tried to cover his baby that was conceived out of adultery. Talk about committing some pretty bad sins! But thank God that He doesn’t look at our failures or shortcomings, but rather at our heart. When David realized what he had done and how far he had fallen from purity, he cried to the Lord for forgiveness and repented of what he had done. He did not repent and remain in his sin, but repented and moved on from his sin. It was due to David’s genuine repentance that God called him a man after His own heart. David is the perfect example for anyone who is struggling with their purity because despite his many mistakes, God forgave and restored him.

But what about when someone isn’t a “David” and really crossed the lines? What about those who are remaining a virgin until marriage? Well, if that’s you, then you will relate to me. When I was a young girl, I made a promise to the Lord that I would remain pure until marriage. At the age of fourteen, I met my husband Justin. His family came to our church, we became the best of friends and fell in love. Throughout our relationship, I kept my commitment to be pure to the Lord until our wedding day. I was able to keep my promise because I kept my standards high and wouldn’t settle for less than God’s best. But throughout my teen years, I met lots of young people who didn’t keep their promise to the Lord. They lost their way and their vision became cloudy. They crossed lines and had their heart broken. You see, being pure isn’t only about guarding your body, but it’s also about how we view ourselves. Our purity is our most precious gift and is meant to be protected.

So maybe you’re single and remaining pure until marriage. Or maybe you lost your way, made a lot of mistakes, and want a second chance on purity. Whatever your circumstance, Jesus provides the strength and forgiveness you need to live a life of purity. As a single person, purity is something that will be given to your future spouse, so protect it, because it will be worth it. As a married couple, keeping your mind and spirit pure is one of the most precious gifts you can give to your spouse. In today’s world, there are very low expectations on relationships. Being a true man or woman of God is not only being faithful with your actions, but faithful in your heart and with your eyes. Is it possible? Absolutely! Living a life of purity is possible in today’s world, even if you already made mistakes and have fallen short of living a pure life. Like David who was given a second chance, we also have the same opportunity to live a life of purity with Christ’s strength. With the Lord’s help we are able to live a life of purity in a not-so-pure world. Being pure is the belief that YOU are worth more than society’s standards. It’s knowing that your body, mind and spirit are more important to you than what those in society tell us.