Staying Pumped

Every Monday we’ll post something to do with maintaining sexual purity. Hope it helps.

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Staying Pumped

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And he that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure.” (I John 3:3-4)

Knowing what I should do is pretty much a slam dunk. On any given day, with few exceptions, the challenge isn’t to know what’s right, but rather, to stay motivated to do what’s right, because knowledge alone won’t keep me on track. Look no further than my driving to prove that point. I know the speed limits, and I’m aware that “Stop” doesn’t really mean “slow down a bit, nod at the sign, then gun it”, yet that doesn’t keep me from sometimes ignoring the law. But my, how motivated to good citizenship I become in the proximity of a black and white. Motivation makes or breaks my compliance with known truth.

Known truth tells us that to look lustfully at another is to commit inward adultery (Matthew 5:27-28) and that our bodies, as temples of the Holy Spirit, are to remain undefiled. (I Corinthians 6:19) That’s clear and inarguable, and in twenty-five years of counseling Christian men I’ve yet to have one come into my office not knowing these basics. The question is never “What should I do or not do?”, but rather, “How do I stay inspired to do what’s right?” On this point, John gives us sound advice in his Epistle.

“When He shall appear, we shall be like Him — every man who has this hope in him purifies himself,” he said, reminding us that when we focus on what actually is and what actually will be, our zeal for holiness thrives.

I’m especially interested in the way he puts the onus on us for purification. The phrase “he that has this hope purifies himself” indicates I have the capacity to somehow make myself pure, but surely there’s a limit to that. I can’t transform myself from glory to glory, nor can I genuinely cleanse myself as only the Holy Spirit can. Yet there is a form of self-purification that involves, at the least, setting ourselves apart, distancing ourselves from unclean behavior, and recognizing our place as vessels separated for the Master. This is similar to what Joshua expected of Israel when, just before they amazingly crossed the un-crossable Jordan, he said “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5) You’re a separated people, he seems to be saying, and soon you’ll be ushered into a whole new existence. In light of that, stay prepared in heart, mind and body.

You and I can do that today. We can see our current financial, physical and situational stressors for what they are – momentary light afflictions, as Paul said (II Corinthians 4:17) that we’re commissioned to deal with in the interest of good stewardship and eternal reward. And the temptations that buffet us relentlessly are, in the end, hurdles our coach allows so we can run, jump and persevere, enduring difficulties with the joyful confidence that this life isn’t it. It’s a season, brief and bearable, and our ability to see it as such is largely determined by our willingness to remember His soon coming, our soon transformation, and this life’s soon demise.

There’s an end to any race, however long and treacherous, and the runner who remembers the inevitability of the finish line draws encouragement and inspiration to move ahead, even as his breath shortens and his muscles burn. I want that reality-based zeal today, and, craving it, I’ll trust Him to impart it to me, as He has entrusted me to seek it and use it wisely. And then, sooner than any of us really grasp, the End. And the Beginning. In between, knowing and hoping for what’s promised by the infallible Promiser, we do indeed purify ourselves.

Seeing this life and the next for what they really are, what else could we do?