This could be dubbed “Purity – Part 2” or a kind of addendum to my last post.
Purity is so often referred to within the context of marriage (and it should be), but as a single woman, I cannot view purity simply in terms of: “I need to be faithful to the spouse God will give me one day” or “Pursuing purity now will make my marriage that much better”
I may never get married.
I may get married and have a hard marriage.
I might gain the marriage I hope for, but still find my heart longing after other things.
I might do all the “right” things and still obtain what feels like a bitter providence.
What does purity get those who seek it, treasure it, and fight for it?
It’s not a better life on this earth.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
Am I willing to let go of the prize that I imagine I deserve for obedience and instead receive the mercy and eternal inheritance in Christ that I could never have earned?
Will I surrender the hope of this age, which clings to a formulaic yet faulty quid pro quo for following God, or will I follow Jesus in the way of the cross?
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” -Matthew 16:24
And what gain is there? I’ll let my favorite verse from “Christ is Mine Forevermore” answer this:
“And mine are keys to Zion city
Where beside the King I walk
For there my heart has found its treasure Christ is mine forevermore.”
Jesus is the treasure – He’s the One cleared our sinful record and who makes it possible to obey God.
He is my reward and the reason I want to strive for purity.
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