You are here: Home / Archives for Pure

Pure

PURE THOUGHTS

//  Leave a Comment

I am thinking today about things that are pure. It is interesting to note various products and companies that identify what they offer as “pure.” You can buy beauty products that are 100% pure organic and natural. There is a restaurant named Pure Eatery that offers “fresh honest food.” You can go to Pure Yoga which claims, “many practices, one intention.” Sherwin Williams offers a paint that is “pure white.” I wonder if they also have pure black, pure red, or pure yellow. Pure Talk is a company that offers “simply smarter wireless.” The word “pure” seems to have popular usage for reaching customers who are intrigued by that tag.

The online Urban Dictionary says the number one meaning of “pure” is “something that is innocent and cute.” Like, “Wow, she is a pure angel!” Pure in what way, I would ask? It is interesting to notice how this word is used. I just realized I am sitting here with a bottle of water on my desk that is Nestle Pure Life. It, BTW, lists ingredients as pure water and three other things. What things do we expect should be pure? Certainly, we want pure water. We also want to live with a pure conscience, close friends to have a pure heart and pure intentions, and radio stations that play pure country.

But what does the word mean? “Pure” has to mean the absence of something. Pure water is supposedly unpolluted, having no impurities. A pure heart would be one with no evil or sinful intentions. A pure mind would be one uncontaminated by lies and deceit. Given the meaning of “unmixed with stuff that dilutes or spoils,” it may be difficult to name anything or anyone as pure “pure.”

A thing that is pure would be more desirable and valuable than the thing that is impure, wouldn’t it? We would rather have pure gold than 10 karat gold. We do not want to drink water that we know is only 75 % pure. How would we feel if God made us only 75% pure and 25% unforgiven? Would that be OK? We would continue to be under condemnation even if we were 99% pure. But, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

If we believe and trust in God, we have been purified by the perfect love of God through His sinless Son who died for us. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:8-9). 100% cleansed. 100% forgiven. 100% saved. Pure!

THINGS THAT ARE PURE

//  Leave a Comment

Our meditations each week are from Philippians 4:8. Now, let’s think about whatever things are pure. Pure? These are things without contamination. They have not been polluted. They are not corrupted in any way. They have not been spoiled, tarnished or stained. They are pure. Think about things that are pure. Before I suggest some things, what images of pure things come to your mind? Quickly write down some things before I influence your thoughts. I only want to add to your meditation on “pure things;” not limit them.

One quick note. Every English translation and version of the Bible renders the word “pure” in our text except for The Message which rewords it “authentic.” (how appropriately that version’s name begins with the letters “mess”).

Now. Your list of things pure may include the heart of a child, a virgin, your drinking water, or Pure oil company. You may have heard the phrase “Pura Vida” which means “pure life” in Spanish, a Costa Rican philosophy that encourages the appreciation of life’s simple treasures. Maybe you thought how you miss those days of your own childhood when thoughts and motives were pure.

A word search in scripture will turn up several pure things: God’s wisdom (James 3:17), pure religion (James 1:27), and the pure gold streets in the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:21). There are two pure things which are especially enjoyable to fix our minds on. I don’t mean to discount any other pure things. But allow me to draw our attention to these two.

God’s Word. “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6). “Your word is very pure, therefore your servant loves it” (Psalm 119:140). The Word of God is precious to every believer. We know the truth of it. We know the power of it, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23). God’s word is pure. His instructions are pure. His commands are pure. His promises are pure. Think about it.

Our inheritance. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). Did you catch the word “pure” in those verses? Our inheritance, our eternal place in heaven is “incorruptible and un-defiled.” Imagine it! In all it’s wonder, beauty, and glory there is nothing, nor will there ever be anything that will dilute, tarnish, or spoil what our Savior has prepared for us. Not even us. And, it is reserved for all who believe in Jesus. Think about it.