“Purity”

In the December 2007 issue of The Journal of Environmental Health, researchers conducted a study of the lemons that typically garnish drinks at your average restaurants. What they found is that in almost 70% of the cases, these lemons were infected by a bonanza of different germs and microorganisms. Some germs came from meat-contaminated cutting boards and knives. Some germs were from human saliva. And, some were even fecal in origin! You know what that means, -- it’s people not washing their hands properly after using the bathroom and then touching your food! In 70% of the cases, this was the stuff on the lemons in your glass! I mean, Yuck! And, you don’t even want to know the contaminants the FDA considers legally acceptable in your food. You would never eat again if you knew how many insect parts and rodent hairs were allowed in the food you buy. So, cleanliness is important. Purity is important. Being free from “other” things is important. 

Well, in the sixth of the beatitudes of Jesus, this is the kind of heart Jesus says is blessed. He says, “Blessed are the pure in heart.” The Greek word for “pure,” katharos, – basically means “clean.” Like being clean after you take a bath or clean wash your clothes. But, if you tease this word out a little more, it was also used to describe something that was pure and free from other things!

Bible commentator, William Barclay says that the word katharos was used to describe corn that had been carefully sifted and had all the chaff removed so that all that was left was 100% corn! Nothing else. It was also used to describe an army in which all the bad soldiers were weeded out so all that remained was an elite fighting force.  An army that was katharos! Men who were 100% committed to being soldiers!

As Christians, we are to have hearts that are katharos! Hearts that are pure! Hearts that are 100% devoted to God! We are to be people who are focused and have a one track mind for God. That is what I will be talking about in worship this Sunday, October 18. So please join us for worship in person at either 8:00 AM or 10:30 AM, and online at 10:30 AM.

Pastor John