Ambrose.J. Chakre
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is exellemnt,or praise worthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Every sign of purity in us, depicts the powers of God within us. if the powers within us are holy, so our acts must be. Imitation of sin in itself is a sin and impurity does not depict a virgin bride but holiness does. Every past events of our lives must not have been holy but like Gomer if we return to Christ the light within us will expel every dark feelings which had defiled us in the past. The scripture’s stance on purity is always definite and it is the only means to see God. (Matthew 5:68 ) Further, in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, the scripture states “ For God did not call us to be impure but to live a holy life”. ( 1st Thessalonians 4:7 ) To make us holy, righteous and pure is the purpose of the Word and our stance will only be justified only if we live in the powers of it.Making our stance clear, there is no false holiness; except the holiness which we boast of and live by. This means that sin, hypocrisy and deception can have no fellowship with holiness and it will be a double tragedy to ever mock God. It implies that the certainty of what we believe must be justified by what we must achieve. To this, the scripture exhorts us to be completely holy, not fulfilling the lust of the flesh but fulfilling the laws of God.
As the God ordained Bride, the standard of our living must be in conformity with holiness. Stating this in love, it is most dangerous not to win God’s honor and it is expected of God’s people to do all that is honorable in God’s sight. Since the engagement we have with God is of holiness, our every step has to be in tune with the truth. Just as we are commanded to love each other, Christ exhorts husbands to love their wives as Christ loves his bride which is the Church of Holiness.
The Epistle of Ephesians thus accounts “ Husbands, l.ove your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church- for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two become one in flesh. This is a profound mystery- but I am talking about Christ and the church. ( Ephesians 5:25-32 )
The very reason of existence is that we may be perfected unto righteousness and like the five wise virgins it will be good for us to live in the wisdom of God. Fearing God and shunning evil are the greatest sign of God’s wisdom and understanding in us. ( Job 28:28 ) Even as it is written in the Scripture “ If God is for us who can be against us”, we will be doing injustice to God if we are to ever sin against Christ, his blood and against the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:31 ) Adding to this, does not the Word say “ Grieve not the holy Spirit with whom we were sealed for the day of redemption. ( Ephesians 4:30 ) Truth is, we often grieve the Holy Spirit and weep, we must, for we often sin against the Spirit of salvation. And since God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil and he does not tolerate sin, it will be wiser not to do what displeases him. ( Habakkuk 1:13 ) Every investment made in sin will only result ion death but the investments made in holiness will result in greater joy, greater glory and greater honor. The choices given, the decision has to be made and it will be by what you choose which will determine how much you gain or lose in the future. The best is always desired and expected and receiving what we anticipate satisfies the desires within. God has not called us to fix our eyes on either sin or fashion but on Christ and it will be disastrous to fix our eyes on the world rather than on God. In regard to this, the Holy Scripture states “ Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ( Colossians 3:1,2 )
Our eyes sees what it sees, our minds thinks it thinks and our mouth speaks what wed speak and truthfully speaking we know what we are within. We have to come to the understanding that we are what we are inside and our eyes speaks a language of what we are. Conforming not to the pattern of the world, the Church must be transformed in the complete likeness of her Lover, Maker and Husband. ( Romans 12:2 ) ( Emphasis added ) This is what we are called to be, striving for perfection in relationship, in holiness and in purity. The Church has to understand that disaster does not strike till it strikes and death does not come till it comes but even when it comes if we are alert, equipped, we will always be on the safer side, on the upper hand. Just as we are loved much, the Church has to know what it means to love and to be loved. No one can ever love God in unfaithfulness, hypocrisy and lies but only in the truth. Let all the ones who desires purity see this as they would God. The judge is ready to judge- Will we be found worthy to be accepted as the Lamb’s Bride? Only the pure in heart will understand this. The eyes that has read this must understand that God’s eyes are now on us. Let us be devoted to God in purity.
N:B: Purity in essence is a nature of God and it is a state of being undefiled by any sin or stain of the world. The term “virgin “ is often used to denote a stance of purity on the Church’s part and it is what we must be established in. While it is likely for some to dwell on the darker side, the fear of God is preached in this. The prophet Jeremiah was mocked, the patriarch David was insulted and what even if Christ was mocked, insulted and His message scorned at, should not we expect the same?
