By Pastor Beaudry November 25, 2022
It is not easy to give up our desires, by denying our flesh. Of course, we want to remain in God’s good graces, but the challenge is great. Fortunately, the Bible gives us the solution to this.
When we asked older Christians what advice they would give to younger Christians, they would inevitably answer to keep their lives pure. This answer often comes from their own experience and the heartbreak they have felt when drifting away from what they were taught in Church. They also believed for a time that they could have their faith as well as the attractions of the world, only to realize after a while that it was not possible to have both.
The psalmist teaches us how to stay pure. “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you don’t let me wander from your commands” (Psalm 119:9-10 NTL). The writer of this passage had the same question we have today: How can a young man (or young Christian) stay clean in the world in which he lives? Even in this passage we see that the author probably went through difficulties and was looking for answers himself.
The only solution he found was to stick to the Word of God. When we have directed our lives according to the principles of scripture, we stay on the right path. “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalms 119:105 NTL). When we use it correctly, it will show us the way forward. Therefore it is essential that we strive each day to immerse ourselves in the Word of God.
The psalmist suggests two other ways to keep a person pure. The first is to have a heart that seeks the Lord. If our heart is not in unison with the Lord, Bible reading becomes intellectual knowledge only. That is where many Christians go astray. They know a lot about the Bible, but because they have given their hearts to something else, like their job or their children, the power of God’s Word no longer reaches them. “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced” (Matthew 13:22 NTL). When our heart seeks the Lord, the Word of God comes alive, and we naturally desire to obey what it says. Thus, our hearts keeps us pure. “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Luke 12:34 NTL).
The psalmist’s final suggestion for another way to stay clean is a prayer not to err. The psalmist knew the reality of temptation, and did not want his eyes, hands, or feet to wander into sin. So he prayed to God in that sense. We cannot remain pure on our own. We need help from Almighty God. It is He who can give us spiritual blinders for our eyes so that we do not deviate from the path He has for us. So let’s start our day by asking the Lord to keep us from wandering into sin. As Jesus taught his disciples to do. “And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13 NTL).