“How can a young man keep his way pure? 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.” Psalms 119:9-11 (NIV)
Consider all the promises of God. This brings encouragement to the soul and also strengthens us to seek purity and holiness. Faith considers all the future pleasures at the right hand of God in glory – fixing our eyes upon Jesus – far more than any mere earthly trinket that is both fading and perishing. We are to keep a clear and tender conscience seeking to avoid the least sin and running to the foot of the cross in repentance when we do. It is important that we keep our accounts short with the Lord and others. A good conscience is a very delicate and precious thing. And Satan loves to turn it on us when it becomes soiled with sin. He baits and then he accuses. Some people’s consciences are like the ostrich who can digest iron – they can swallow the most notorious transgressions while all the while maintaining no regret – going on in their wandering ways apart from giving them a single thought. It matters not that it is sinning against a holy God or how many people are left in the wake of their poor choices. And there are always consequences to our poor choices, Amen? We choose to sin but God chooses the consequences. Ask King David when you get to heaven.
Have our hearts been broken over the sin in our lives? Does our conscience remain clouded and seared on account of our sin or clear as we pursue righteousness? To be sanctified in soul, spirit and body should be the believer’s aim – not merely some half-hearted partial obedience. If you are a Christian, be a Christian. Remember, if the believer is still here and not home with the Lord, there remains much rebellion in the human soul. Sanctification is our aim. We are called to walk as our Lord Jesus walked – not having an appearance of holiness in one place and reigning sin in another. Remember as well, a superior sense of sanctification can often accompany a total absence of godliness. I.E., the saint in public can be a devil in private. Let Him turn your unsanctified nature through His Spirit bringing it entirely under the powerful influence of His reigning grace.
“Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations.” Isaiah 51:7-8 (NIV)
“Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.” Isaiah 52:11 (NIV)