And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.  1 John 3:3

RECOMMENDED READING: Romans 8:1-18  ^“ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

COMMENTS: 

Proctor created a new line of soap in 1879 he called Ivory soap which he advertised to be 99.44% pure and would float.  Ivory soap is still manufactured and still floats on water and still is advertised as 99.44% pure.  So why did he not advertise it as 100% pure and how is its purity judged?

In order to judge properly, a perfect standard is required to judge against.  Here lies the controversy and debate in modern times that previously generations took for granted.  The Bible was recognized as God’s Word and the standard to judge right from wrong and evil from good.  The United States used the Bible as the moral compass and it’s founding fathers and early leaders used it as the framework to write its constitution and laws to govern by and Bill of Rights to safeguard Its citizens.

Countries and cultures that did not have such a standard typically created their own based on the worldview or values established by their religion.  Many today want us to believe all religions are equally true and valid and have equally valid moral codes.  But many religions condone or even judge good such practices as human sacrifice, slavery, human trafficking, genocide, …

Well, there were times in old testament when God did command the Israelites to kill their enemies and facilitated that against great odds.  Jericho is an example.  They marched around the walls according to God’s instruction to Joshua until the walls fell and then they killed all it’s inhabitants except those hiding in Rehab’s home.  She asked for mercy and accepted the God of Israel and received redemption. 

The standard God established was summarized with the 10 Commandments, which also is the foundation of the Laws of Justice used in the free world. The standard God gave in these commandments exceeded those created based on pagan religions in old testament times and even so today.

God’s standards are perfect and far exceed what man has created and beyond what any man can follow and obey.  Only Christ was able to live as a human and obey all God’s commandments.  He knew we could not.  But He showed us how to and then gave His life as sacrifice and accepted our punished on Himself to provide forgiveness and redemption for each of us.  No human could have imagined such love or such a plan of redemption.  No man could have invented a story with teachings as wise and perfect as Jesus showed and taught.  That is because Christ’s life and His Gospel was not created out of the imagination of a human but recorded by humans who witnesses Christ’s teaching and witnessed His life and death and resurrection and ascension.  They experienced and witnesses the personal life transformation of a life changed by Jesus’ redemption and indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus is the standard to judge good from evil.  A standard no one has ever come close to matching but everyone who follows and obeys Him becomes more like Him as they draw closer to and spend more time learning from Him and being in fellowship with Him.  So how can we be in fellowship with someone who died 2000 years ago?  BECAUSE HE IS ALIVE!  BECAUSE HE IS OUR ETERNAL GOD!  BECAUSE HE HAS DESIGNED US AND GAVE US THE CAPABILITY AND PERMISSION TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM!    Those who say it is not possible and our imagination or a fantasy simply don’t know or understand.  They are blind to His abiding presence all around us in the morning sunrise and setting sun.  In the beauty and aroma of a bed of flowers.   In the majesty of a water fall and wind rushing through a forest, in the colors of fall and in the white blanket of fresh fallen snow.  In the majesty on display of a sky filled with stars on a clear night.  In a thunder-lightning storm.  But also, in the still small voice that speaks to us when we pray and fellowship with Him.  When we see a life transformed by His forgiveness and in the kindnesses of others.   The list goes on.  So how do we know that such transformations are good and murder and lying and stealing and destruction and doing harm to others is wrong and not right?  BECAUSE OF JESUS!  BECAUSE OF WHAT HE TAUGHT AND HOW HE LIVED!  BECAUSE OF HIS WORD RECORDED IN OUR BIBLE!  HE SET THE STANDARD TO JUDGE RIGHT FROM WRONG! 

Scripture also warns us about those who call good evil and evil good.  Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

If we read II Timothy 3, we are given more details of the degree of sinful behavior that will be judged good and acceptable as we digress further and further away from God’s standard:  II Timothy 3 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further*: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse*, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. “

 

So which standard will we follow, God’s or man’s?  Which sounds better to you?  As for me and my house, we will accept and follow God’s standard.  How about you?  So then, how do we do that since we all lack the strength and resolve and will to keep God’s law and live up to Jesus’ example and standard? 

Well, we can’t but if we focus on our relationship with Him and saturate our minds with God’s Word and begin keeping His commandments and avoiding temptations and resist temptations we are confronted by, then the transformation begins in us.  He sees us as perfect when we receive His forgiveness.  But the transformation into being and living perfect is a life-long process with daily progress not only possible but likely if we stay the course and keep our spiritual eyes on Him. 

Controlling our thought lives is something all Christians must battle. And our greatest weapon is the sword of the Spirit (Scripture). When we saturate our minds with the Word of the Lord, we have the tools to overcome the temptations and troubles that crowd into our lives. 

When our souls are filled with memorized Bible verses or with passages we’re pondering, we become unsinkable in life. Let God’s Word dwell in you richly today.

God wants us to succeed and will help us be successful if we simply let Him.  When we refuse or ignore His nudging and helping Hand, that is when we get in trouble.  He still allows us to choose even though He knows and wants us to choose wisely.

 

“A healthy thought life is full of honorable thoughts…Fix your thoughts on what is right.”   Susie Larson

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