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Holy Preparations
What a beatitude. What a beautiful blessing. What blessedness, grace and benediction flow from these gracious words. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. We are told that there is no place in heaven for anything that defiles.. whether in action or attitude; speech or reaction.. thought or motive. Should not we who soon will be walking through the gates of heaven, not make careful preparations before we enter that Holy Place?
Heavenly Preparations
To a little child who desires to play in heaven’s streets of gold.. the wise Christian mother may reply that heaven must enter our hearts first.. for the Kingdom of God is within each of us that loves the Lord. Yes, we read it in John 17:3 and this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent. Heaven needs to be in us before we can enter the gates of heaven and in the same way, we must become pure in heart before we ‘see’ God.
Heart Preparations
But what purity. What is heart purity? It is certainly not sinlessness, for all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. A pure heart must first be a clean heart, a washed heart, a penitent heart. Create in me a clean heart O Lord – a new creation in Christ… and renew a right spirit within me – the holy spirit of purity. see Psalm 51:10 A pure heart must first be a clean heart, a washed heart, a penitent heart.. a heart forgiven by God Himself and a heart cleansed by Christ’s blood. Isaiah 1:18 reminds us that, though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.
Purified By the Blood
The pure heart of the believer is one that has been cleansed by Christ’s blood. But the heart of the believer needs to be kept pure, by obedient living and close communion with God, in and through Christ. Scripture commands us to keep ourselves un-spotted from the world. We read in 1 Peter 3:10: refrain your tongue from evil, and have lips that they speak no guile. Scripture teaches us to follow Christ in thought and word and deed.. maintaining a heart that is open and yielded to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.. a heart that is kept by every influence of His Divine Spirit .. a heart kept by Him, from the power of corruption that flows all around us, for we read in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.
Terrestrial & Celestial
As the lily remains glistening white amid the soils and bogs where it blossoms.. so does the lowly, loving, patient heart of the believer that is pure in heart remains chaste and unspotted in a fallen world of sin and corruption. Remember, the battles and bruises of Israel were in the terrestrial, (the earthly realm) but the battles and bruises of the Christian are in the spiritual plain, (the heavenly realm).
Heavenly Things
Hebrews 8:5 tells us that the terrestrial, serves as examples and shadows of heavenly things, and become an example of suffering affliction, and of patience, we should bear.. an example that we should follow their steps.. or a warning not to follow their wanderings. We are told, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal and earthly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of spiritual strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4
Sword of Scripture
The great sword of Goliath decapitated the physical head of the beastly giant, but in Hebrews 4.12 we read that the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.. piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow – and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Sword of Scripture will demolish the spiritual accusations of the Evil One.
Powerful Weapon
Purity of heart, like meekness of spirit, is a quick and most powerful weapon. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name and the spirit of the Lord Jesus. Yes.. all things are to be done decently and in order. In all things, we are to keep the ordinances. In all things, we are to be obedient to God’s Word. Our words should be neither flattering nor accusational, but should be flavoured with salt. Our deeds also should be carried out with much patience and grace. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him.. if he thirsts, give him drink – for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Romans 12:20
Spiritual Purity
Purity of heart and meekness of spirit runs counter to human pride. They are diametrically opposite to the actions and attitudes of the carnal man. They are in total opposition to the wisdom and the logic of the world. But remember.. blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Bible References
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
23 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
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