Things that are pure have greater value.
Some people measure purity
by the gold standard. The gold standard is measured in the amount of pure goal
in relationship to the impurities in the amount measured. For example, 24 karat
gold means that measure of gold is 99.9% pure gold and one particle of
impurity. 18 carat gold is 18 parts pure and six part impurities or 67%
pure gold. A twelve karat piece would be 50% pure or half gold and half
impurities.
So even the finest gold isn't entirely pure!
The
purity of a diamond is always determined using a magnification factor of 10.
There exist several categories of purity (listed in a decreasing order):
Pure: no impurities are seen
VVS: extremely small impurities, only identifiable
by professionals
VS: very small impurities, hardly or not
identifiable by non-professionals
SI: impurities visible to non-professionals
Pique: the impurities are visible, even without
magnification
So a pure diamond is a possible, though rare!
The more pure a diamond or gold is the more valuable it becomes.
The same goes for the
people of God! The more pure they are the greater their value to Him!
If you could be more pure and therefore, more valuable to God, why wouldn't you it?
Becoming pure requires a deliberate and difficult process.
So, how do I become
pure?
Psalm
119:9-11 speaks directly to that question – “How
can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your
word. I
seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.”
WHAT IS PURITY?
“Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
Purity is a pure heart!
“Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
Purity is pure
thoughts!
Purity begins with a DECISION, Verse 9 asks – “How can a young person
stay on the path of purity? By living
according to your word.”
No one accidentally swerves his way into becoming pure.
No one will wake up one morning and discover to his surprise that he is pure.
If you are to be pure you must make a decision to become pure and then day by day, decision by decision choose to remain pure "by living according to your word."
Purity comes down to just that - deciding to obey the Word and to obey His will every time you are faced with a decision. For example, take Jesus:
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Hebrews 4:14-15
Jesus may have had the advantage of being born pure, unlike you or me. But, just like you or me He had to decide EVERY decision of EVERY day to stay pure. As this Scripture says, he decided NOT to sin.
Because He chose EVERY time to remain pure in thought and motive and action He was able to pay the penalty for all of us who are not pure and who struggle with the decision become pure.
But because He did, and because you can - YOU MUST.