March 28

TO THE PURE ALL IS PURE
by Ray Prinzing

"Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."                         (Titus 1:15).

When the Spirit of God has cleansed and purged us within, taken out all desire for the things of the world which satisfy the lusts of the flesh, we are no longer of this evil realm, and therefore not tempted thereby.  Nothing within to respond to it.

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh  not her own, is not easily provoked, thiketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." (1 Corinthians 13:4-6).

But those who are not pure within, when their mind and conscience are already defiled, to them every remark has a dual meaning, suggestive and filthy.  Every act is slanted toward evil.  One might speak to them a word of truth, but they cannot believe it.  Yet come a false rumor and they will receive it and spread it the more.  To them, nothing is pure.  They cannot comprehend a state of innocence, they cannot believe that you meant only the right, when they already have interpreted your words as suggestive or evil.

What a challenge that God might so thoroughly purify us, so empty us of the carnal mind, that it can be said of us, as of our Lord,  "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."  (John 14:30).

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."  (Matthew 5:8).  Here the Greek word for "pure" is "katharos" meaning clean, pure.  When all within us is clear - no murky areas of self-interest, self-seeking, no unholy desires that lie in wait to rise up and betray us, then we can view all things in purity.  We now see how God uses many testings and trials as a catharsis (from same Greek root) to cleanse us within.  As one songwriter expressed it, He washed my eyes with ears, that I might see,"  And we learn to praise Him for every process which will bring us into HIS PURITY, so that unto us, all things are pure.