February 12
“I will set no worthless thing before my eyes, I hate the work of those who fall away, it shall not fasten its grip on my” Psalm 101:3
Yesterday we spoke of crying out to God to remove evil thoughts from our minds and to give us Christ’s purity of heart, completely clean and free from nagging thoughts that can entangle us and discourage us (and if acted upon, defeat us). We spoke of how valuable this pure heart is, and how often times we don’t make it a high priority to seek it earnestly from the Lord. We either assume we have it or become comfortable with evil thoughts in our minds.
Today will be a reminder that this goal of a pure heart cannot be achieved if we are watching movies or surfing the net or viewing or reading things that bring evil thoughts to our minds. It’s almost like our sinful hearts, part of our fleshly desires, will always be with us in this life on earth. We will always live in a corrupt body that is able to be enticed by sin. Perhaps God’s Spirit encapsulates or surrounds that sinful heart with a new heart through faith in Jesus Christ. And while surrounded, the old heart lays dormant.
But then when we allow ourselves to view or absorb evil thoughts and ideas put forth from evil men and women, it’s like those thoughts and images can pierce through the new heart which should surround and suppress the old heart, and like a key they open the door and allow the evil desires of our old nature “out” and into our minds. They take over and take control. The new man seems powerless and on the sidelines, as these thoughts are free to direct our thinking and perhaps our actions.
I am not totally satisfied with this illustration, but I hope I am making the point that this purity of heart that we seek has to be preserved. God will completely take away the old nature in us (at least, that is not my experience nor my understanding of the scriptures). We have to eliminate from our lives those things that arouse the old nature and allow it out of it’s containment shell. We must be aware that we are not impervious to evil, and after enjoying a pure heart and a clear conscience for a time, we can slip back into a state of sin and discouragement, being plagued once again by evil thoughts.
Don’t be discourage by this, but understand what is happening. Don’t chose to go back to an impure heart. Ask God to give you the mental strength, perseverance, faith, and spiritual determination to remain pure in Him, to realize the immense value of this purity of heart and clear conscience. Going back to a mind muddled in sin is really not worth it. It is depressing and discouraging. May God give us pure hearts and a determination to keep them pure!