23/08/2021
Sunday meditation
A purifying hope
āAnd everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as he is pureā (1 Jn 3: 3, NKJV).
Living in purity is one evidence that a believer is expecting the return of the Lord, as He had promised. It is the believerās response to the lavish love the Father has bestowed on us, as His dear children. As a bride adorns herself with jewels for the groom, so does the believer adorn himself with the garment of righteousness in anticipation of the Lordās return. After all, our union with Christ is likened to a marriage relationship. When Christ died for the church, it was that āHe might sanctify and cleanse herā and subsequently āmight present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemishā (Eph 5: 26-27, NKJV). Please see Colossian 1: 21-22.
Therefore, the hope of the Lordās return should make a believer stay pure. As Christ taught, only the pure in heart shall see God (Matt 5:8). And in the vision John saw about heaven as recorded in Revelation, we are warned that, āthere shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes abomination, or a lieā (21:27, NKJV).
This being the case, purity is a condition for making heaven! The Almighty God Himself whose throne is in the third heaven is holy. Holiness defines His being. Everything about Him is holy. This is the God waiting to admit us into His holy dwelling place when our journey on earth is done!
In the Old Testament He had charged Israel: āYe shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holyā (Lev 19:2). And for the New Testament Church the command again is: ābut as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conductā (1 Pet 1: 15, NKJV).
The Scripture is emphatic: āGod hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holinessā (1 Thess 4:7). And to help us stay on the path of purity, Godās Word provides us with a guide: āWalk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.ā āIf ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.ā āAnd do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Godā (Gal 5:16, Col 3:1-2, Rom 12:1-2).
Friends, our Christian calling is described as āa holy callingā (2 Tim 1:9) unto a āblessed hopeā (Titus 2:3) ā the āhope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie promised before time beganā (Titus 1:2, NKJV). Now we await the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. āAnd everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as he is pure.ā
God bless you.
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Your brother,
Nduka N. Nwankpa
August 22, 2021