Purity is a word that is seldom used today. It almost seems that the idea of purity has become “old fashioned”, “out of date”, or “unrealistic”. However, according to John the apostle, purity still remains just as real as it ever was, and its importance is realized most by those who are expecting the return of Jesus Christ at any moment. John writes in First John chapter three and verse three:
And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
We should remember yesterday's teaching when we consider this verse. We learned that when Jesus returns we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is as stated by John in chapter three verse two:
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.
Today we understand that having the hope of Jesus' return has a purifying effect upon our lives. Jesus is pure, and those understand this consider it with these questions, “Is there anything that we would not like to be doing when Jesus returns?” or “What activity would we not want to be doing when Jesus comes back?” For example, would we want to be cursing, gossiping, or backbiting? Would we want to be killing, stealing or lying? Would we want to be cheating, getting high or getting drunk when Jesus arrives? If you are like me, we desire to be “reading our Bible, praying, teaching a Sunday School class or serving someone” when Jesus returns rather than the former. You see, that's the purifying effect that John is referring to when he speaks of Jesus' return.
Those who are watching and waiting for Jesus' return know that it could be at any moment. Jesus taught us this in the book of Matthew chapter twenty-four and verses thirty six through thirty nine:
But of that day and hour knows no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
So according to Jesus, He could return at any time and no one knows when. Jesus will return. That's His promise, and He cannot lie. The question for today is, what will we be doing when He returns? This hope, this blessed hope, of Jesus returning at any time should make all of us who read John's words examine ourselves and purify any speech, ways or attitudes that we would be embarrassed about should he return during our performance of them. Thank God our Heavenly Father for keeping the return of Jesus a secret so that all of His children will continue to walk in purity as He desires.
Next time we will take a look at what it means to be a “transgressor”, and we'll consider once again how this affects our relationship with God, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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