Purity - We are the Temple of God!
Heaven is the house which Wisdom has built to entertain all her guests that are called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb; that is her Father’s house, where there are many mansions, and whither she has gone to prepare places for us. (Matthew Henry)
In Exodus, the second book of the Bible, God gives instructions regarding the building of the temple, the place where He will dwell and meet with man. Thirty times, He mentions the word “pure” when stating the materials' quality. God talks about using Pure Gold, Pure Oil, and Pure Incense. In each of these materials, you can see that God is interested in providing the temple with high-quality items that, in turn, will ensure a memorable encounter with God in His meeting place. What is important to remember is that we, as believers in Jesus, are the temple of God. We are His dwelling place, meaning that the materials mentioned here symbolize the work that God is working in us to present us to Himself as a place where He can manifest His Glory. God is creating a place on earth where He can express Himself.
What is purity with God? Purity with God is unhindered communion with God’s Spirit. The Bible likens purity to gold, which has had all impurities removed through refinement. In Revelation 3:18, the instructions to the Angel of the church of Laodiceans is to tell this church that God sees the members of this church as halfhearted in their devotion to God, and the result is that they are lukewarm, making them displeasing to God. God’s remedy for half-hearted devotion is to pray for refinement by fire, which only comes by yielding to the Holy Spirit. Here is what the Bible says,
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. Revelation 3:18
This refinement is discussed in 2 Corinthians, where Paul explains his own experience with God’s method of refinement.
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:7-10
Likewise, the refinement of God is spoken about in Psalms, where it says,
“For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.” Psalms 66:10 NKJV
And then again, in Zechariah, we see God forecasting His work of refinement, saying,
“I will bring the one–third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ” Zechariah 13:9
God is very intentional in how He works to refine man. However, the enemy (Satan) works to hinder the work of refinement by deception and distraction. In Daniel, we see how the enemy's deception works to distract those who have resisted God’s work of refinement.
“Those who do wickedly against the covenant he [the devil] shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.” [emphasis mine] Daniel 11:32-35
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, we saw an example of how the enemy tries to hinder God's refinement. Paul testified that a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him so that he would not be exalted above measure. When Paul asked God to remove this hindrance from him, God responded that His Grace was sufficient because God’s strength (how He imparts strength to man) is made perfect through weakness (or refinement).
It may seem strange to hear that the Bible says that you are blessed when you are persecuted for doing what is right. No one feels blessed when going through hard times while doing everything they know how to do and doing it in ways that seem right. The problem is that God’s ways are not ours (Isaiah 55:8), and there is a way that seems right to man, but the result is the destruction of man (Proverbs 14:12). By taking us through various trials and tribulations, God teaches us how to discern good and evil.
Purity comes with spiritual maturity, and spiritual maturity comes from surrendering to Jesus and His word. The Bible says that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and that he will finish the work that He started in us (Philippians 1:6) . Purity provides the ability to handle the complex things of God. Spiritual Purity enhances our earthly senses, allowing us to see past the deception of God’s enemy, the devil. The Bible expresses this as follows:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [emphasis mine] (Hebrews 5: 12-14)
Jesus is God's wisdom, and He is the one who builds all of the pillars of wisdom in our lives.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made [emphasis mine]. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-4).
Click here if you would like to read about Pillar 2 - Peacefulness
Click here if you would like to read about Pillar 3 - Gentleness
Click here if you would like to read about Pillar 4 - Obedience
Click here if you would like to read about Pillar 5 - Merciful
Click here if you would like to read about Pillar 6 - Impartiality
Click here if you would like to read about Pillar 7 - Honesty
