Three Easy Steps to Purity

Proverbs 4:23-27 offers great advice on protecting your heart and body from sexual impurity. Verse 23 has been one of my favorite verses since fifth grade, but the following verses are as wise and beneficial as verse 23. It says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."

I really love the wording of this passage. Guard your heart. Keep perversity and corrupt talk far from your lips. Fix your gaze directly ahead. Only walk on solid ground. Don't swerve to the right or the left. It's so simple, and so beautiful. Yet if you apply it to your life, the results can be life-changing.

There are a couple of simple principles we glean from these passages that can really impact our lives. The first principle is to guard your heart. Your heart is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 27:19 says, "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Your heart reflects who you are, so don't let it become contaminated. In the context of sexual purity, that means don't give your heart away. I talk about this further in Giving Away Your Best Strength.

The second concept is to keep your mouth clean. Nobody likes a perv, so don't be one. Girls get tired of you really fast when you continuously compliment their physical beauty. They want to be complimented on their inner beauty. And I don't feel like I need to explain to you the difference between the two beautys. So don't be a perverted jokester. Instead, keep your mouth clean. Be nice, polite, and encouraging. Build others up. Don't tear them down.You won't maintain your friendships very long if you're a jerk with your words.

And last but not least, don't leave the path of righteousness. Don't stray left or right. Jesus warned, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Don't stray from the path. It may seem small and rather insignificant at the time, but remember that it isn't the path that matters: it's the destination. A path that appears satisfying and enjoyable and filled with pleasures but in the end takes you to the grave, it'd be stupid to go down it. But if a simple, pain, and ordinary path takes you to a glorious and beautiful and holy destination, go down that path! The good news for us is that there is nothing simple, plain, or ordinary about following Christ. So don't let your eyes wander off the path. Fix your gaze straight ahead, lest you see something desirable off the path and stray from it.

So there you have it. Guard your mouth, keep a clean mouth, and don't leave the path of righteousness. Those are three easy steps to sexual purity.

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