Purity Pays!

Today we get to take a brief break from all of the terror and horror of the Tribulation. Chapters 14:1-20 is an interlude of three visions intended to reassure the church amid trials and persecutions.

Chapter 14 begins by describing the scene of 144,000 outstanding believers appearing in heaven. These saints are the "cream of the crop!" We are saved through faith, but we are rewarded for faithfulness! "Then I looked, and there was the Lamb (Jesus), standing on Mount Zion!" Mount Zion is the heavenly Zion (Hebrews 12:22).

While some groups make a big issue of the number 144,000, most scholars teach that this number refers symbolically to God's most consecrated and faithful people throughout all time. These individuals will enjoy a special position and favor in heaven. Thus the number 144,000 does not mean they are limited to that specific number. Rather, you and I can "sign up" for this group by living a life that is consecrated and devoted to God. God is pleased with a life of faith, love and service!

They (the 144,000) sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except this group. The new song may be the one in Rev 5:8-10.

It is wise to do a periodic "check up" of our spiritual condition. Ask God to reveal to you what changes He would like to see in your life! Waiting for the last moment and hoping that God is pleased could be dangerous. You might be like the 5 foolish virgins in the parable Jesus told. Be honest now… would you put yourself in that elect crowd, or would you say that you were just a spectator?

When I went to some of the basketball games this year, I saw players and spectators. Each group could be broken down into two categories. Those who really got into it and those who just came along for the ride. Some players work long hard hours in private so they can perform well in public. Some do just what they have to so they can say that they are on the team. Some sports fans cheer the team on to higher heights while others sit and gossip. You wonder why some people even attend a game!

There are Christians who fit into both groups. Some will get to heaven "just barely," while others will rule and reign with Christ. You and I make the decision by how we live every day! It has nothing to do with the size of our community, whether large or small – or with the size of the church, large or small. Rather it has to do with faithfulness, motive and diligence!

Please, look to Christ for an example! The rest of us will all fail at times!

Revelation 14:1-5

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

Verse 4 describes the 144,000. "These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb."

This phrase is best understood in a spiritual sense. The 144,000 overcomers remained pure by refusing to conform to the pagan world system. Other scriptures teach that God considers worship of anything or any person other than God to be spiritual prostitution or adultery. God does not want us sleeping around with anyone who is not our wife or husband! By the same token, He wants us to worship Him and Him alone. Why? Because He is a jealous God who wants only what is best for each of us!

Sometimes we get a little confused in our understanding of the Bible. A teacher in a religious school asked some of her elementary children a few Biblical questions. Here are some of the answers.

“The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.”

“Moses died before he ever reached Canada. Then Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol.”

“The greatest Miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.”

“St. Paul cavorted to Christianity. He preached holy acrimony, which is another name for marriage.”

“Christians have only one spouse. This is called monotony.”

God has a reason to tell us not to sin. Spiritual and physical sin is NOT GOOD FOR US! Looking at sins in the flesh first, we find that not living a sexually-pure life can set people up for heartaches and disappointments. Marriages fall apart, trust is lost, self esteem is destroyed!

Sexually-transmitted diseases are rampant in our country because of the risks associated with sexual impurity. My wife is a public health nurse. When she teaches abstinence in the schools she spreads a blanket on the floor. This represents individuals who sleep together. She tells a story that ends up with each person being promiscuous … one who has sex with someone who also had sex with someone else in the group. Slowly the students realize that one person can infect the whole group! As you know, people die from AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea and other diseases. They also suffer from some chronic infections.

Sexually-pure people don’t have to worry about that! God’s plan works. Yes, there is some risk with AIDS because of blood transfusions, but by and large, the risk is minimal or nonexistent for sexually-pure people.

The same principle applies to spiritual purity. As a matter of fact, when Israel moved into the Promised Land they were to kill all the Canaanites. God did not want their sinful, idolatrous practices influencing His people. But they compromised their doctrine, did not walk in obedience, and as a result, eventually their nation no longer existed!

My brother Carl is doing a series for our newsletter concerning the fact that our nation was founded as a Christian nation. I encourage you to keep this series to refer to in the future. The person on whose talk the series is based is a Judge and a Southern Baptist who has done his homework. [If you would like to be on our newsletter mailing list, please send me an e-mail.]

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8.

Purity is not innocence -- it is much more than that. Purity is the result of continued spiritual harmony with God. We have to grow in purity. Our life with God may be right and our inner purity unblemished, yet occasionally our outer life may become spotted and stained.

God intentionally does not protect us from this possibility, because this is the way we recognize the necessity of maintaining our spiritual vision through personal purity. If the outer level of our spiritual life with God is impaired to the slightest degree, we must put everything else aside until we make it right. Remember that spiritual vision depends on our character -- it is "the pure in heart" who "see God."

God makes us pure by an act of His sovereign grace, but we still have something that we must carefully watch. It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. Not only must our "inner sanctuary" be kept right with God, but also the "outer courts" must be brought into perfect harmony with the purity God gives us through His grace. Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our "outer court" is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us.

A practical help in keeping your personal purity unblemished in your relations with other people is to begin to see them as God does. Say to yourself, "That man or that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend or that relative is perfect in Christ Jesus!" Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

God has saved us and called us to a holy life -- not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:9 NIV

What does it take to be the selfless, loving Christian we desire to be? What is needed to move us beyond our inconsequential selfish, fleshly pursuits to deeds of loving service to God and others?

First, it requires a firm grasp on your identity in Christ. You can't love like Jesus loved until you accept the reality that, since you are in Christ, His divine nature is united with your spirit.

Second, you must begin to crucify daily your old sin-trained flesh and walk in accordance with who you are! We are children of God and our spirits are filled with God's Spirit. The fact is that the Holy Spirit resides in us and that we can live according to His leading! This is an awesome but elusive concept to many.

Nicodemus was a learned man, but he couldn't comprehend life in the Spirit. So Jesus told him, "...the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8

Trying to reduce life in the Spirit to a formula is like trying to capture the wind. Someone reflecting on the mysteries of walking by the Spirit said, "I think we need to pull in the oars and put up the sail!" I like that. When we walk by the Spirit, we stop striving. We are no longer driven; we are led. "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14). When we come to the end of our resources, we discover His. Father, help me to quickly set aside human resources today so I may walk in the strength and adequacy of Your Spirit.

Written by Neil Anderson at www.ficm.org

Purity – having a firm purpose to do what God has called us to do – then doing it! Make that your goal!