Torch, Summer 1995

serve God for His glory, it is a difficult thing to dismiss the desire to succeed, or concern with what others think, or other purely selfish motives. These same questions can be applied to our demonstrations of kindness and love. Are they done because of expectations of being repaid? These simple questions point out the importance of our motives when examining for impurity. The Test Of Desires The hunger of the heart is a good test of its purity. For example, do we really disapprove of the things we speak against, or do we inwardly long for them? Are we acting like we disapprove of the dirty joke that's just been told, while really laughing on the inside and anxious to hear more? Do we congratulate others on a job well done, while inwardly we are actually disappointed that they have not failed? Have we turned off the TV, only to sit and ponder in our minds what we wish we were seeing? Cravings , even observed in the very act of abstaining from evil, provide a window through which to view the heart. An exterior scrubbing may be a good thing to do, but it may be a cosmetic covering of a truly impure heart. We need a cleansing from the inside out, which writes the law of God on receptive and grateful hearts . It is then that we can pray with the Psalmist, "I desire to do your will, 0 my God; your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8). The Test Of Humility When the word "purity" is mentioned, what comes to mind? Generally the first consideration is in the area of sexuality. While this specialized emphasis is a critical issue, it must not be the only area of examination. When Jesus discussed the evil coming from impure hearts, He included "evil thoughts , sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly" (Mark 7:21). When examining the purity of our hearts, we must ask such questions as : Is our love sincere? Is our concern for others genuine? Is greed our motivation for work? Are our business dealings ethical? Can our words be trusted? Is our service to the church family authentic? Examination for purity must include our entire life at home, work, play, and in private . Ignoring any of these areas makes us vulnerable to self delusion ("I don't have any problems") and minimizes our sensitivity, understanding, and response to temptation (''I'm safe from sin's enticement") . When the extent of this examination is understood, this makes the diagnosis clear: we are all impure people. We can only -----------------------------__,. ask, as the Proverb The beauty ofthe Sangre de Cristo Mountains reminded us of the awesome power of God. 8 Torch does: "Who can say, I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin?" (Proverbs 20:9) Seeing ourselves in the light of God's standard for purity can only make us anxious for cleansing that we are not able to accomplish ourselves. It also makes us slow to impose our standards and judge others . We realize that we cannot make ourselves pure. This does not mean