Staying Pure

Nowadays, it’s a big challenge to live a pure life. Various forms of media can entice us to keep ourselves off guard.

Even as technology advances, the problem of immorality remains the same as in the past.

The consequences of broken relationships with loved ones are still being faced, as well as broken individuality.

That's why as Christians, we're called to be Ambassadors of Purity. We're diplomats representing God’s holiness in an immoral world.

Let's not forget that we're also Soldiers of the Cross. We are on spiritual warfare against this never-ending battle with ungodliness. We pursue this for the people we love most: family, friends, schoolmates, workmates, and most especially God.

This is my highest goal in mind. I’m doing this for my loved ones, and most especially to my future spouse. This is the best gift I can give it when I decide to marry her.  

Through this, I'm honoring the marriage bed. It is for the purpose of oneness- physically, emotionally and spiritually. It cannot be done within its boundaries. This is a covenant that I should take seriously.

But as imperfect as I am, I can miss this target. Lustful thoughts can dominate me and can lead me to immoral behavior. I fear for committing the smallest abuses and taking a little compromise in them. If left unchecked, the effects can be life-destroying.

No one is an exception to this kind of temptation. But I firmly believe that this battle can be won.

If I want to win this battle, I need to do these:

1. I need to guard my mind.

I need to protect my mind from anything that distorts God’s perfect design from my sexuality. I should be holy for He is holy. I should purify my mind by renewing it with His Word. I should remind myself of what He says about immorality.

I should prepare my mind on the possible consequences I can face when I am lead to my own immorality. And when I do, I'll press on and keep the fight.

2. I need to guard my body.

I need to take care of the body created by God. He's the owner of it, so he has the heavenly title. Only my spouse has the earthly rights to it.

I should promise my body to keep it away from immorality. I shouldn't allow any compromise to my calling in bringing glory to God.

I should protect my body from falling into immorality. When I need to run from it, I shouldn't think twice.

3. I need to guard my companions.

I should keep in mind that we all need each other to keep from falling. The battle can't be alone. And when one falls, we're in it together. No soldier is left behind.

I need to pray for my companions that they'll be able to win in the many temptations they face.

I need to protect them from any harm temptations can give once they give in. We need to be accountable for one another. I have to confront when needed.

I do this because I follow my Commander. He enlisted me to become part of His army. So I salute His authority, follow His orders, and march on.

Being under this cycle is really tiring. You come into a point where you become spiritually dry. It’s exhausting until you come to a point where you don’t want it anymore. You wish to be back on the right track.

I agree that we come to this due to our bad choices. Some have fallen headlong, and it's up to us if we want to give up on this battle.

It's not an easy fight, but I'm glad God's helping us with it. When we fall, we can stand up and try again. If we really want to turn our back from it, we should be genuinely repenting.  We admit our sin, confess it, and start making that change.

When we continue on this, we can be fully restored. Our sin is removed, our spirit is renewed, and we can be back to shape in service.

I hope that we can carry this pursuit for the rest of our lives. If we can all work on this, a national revival may occur. And I would look forward to seeing that day where each of us is renewed by this thinking.