Paranoid About Purity

Purity starts with the way we use our mind.

¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

-James 1:14-15 

..."after desire has conceived" v. 15a

The fact that it is conceived, it implies that it starts in our mind.

The word tempted in verse 14 is a very important word for the understanding of our study. Language is an imperfect tool for communication so it's always important to see the original word that the author used. 

Let us dig deeper. The word tempted comes from the original word, πειράζεται (Peiradzetai), which if you parse; Present Middle/ PASSIVE Indicative. The word is in passive mode, meaning, we are tempted passively by our own evil desire.

What can we learn from this?

Obviously, if you don't guard your mind, you will be bombarded with temptations, passively! 
What comes to your mind when you hear the word passive? For me, since I'm venturing into online marketing that earns passively, I think of passive income. Income generating even without myself working for it everyday.

That is the same kind of word for temptation used in this verse, passive.Temptation is sure to come, and sin is expected to be the outcome, because it has already been 'conceived'.

Meaning, you don't have to do anything to be tempted. And what more? The devil doesn't have to do anything to tempt you! He doesn't have to push you to sin, in order for you to commit sin. The devil knows you will automatically commit sin if you are not actively pursuing to know and apply the Truth (v. 22).

I like how C.S. Lewis puts it to words, as though the devil were speaking; “It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” Screwtape Letter, Chapter IV.

Now you see where this is going, we are in ourselves sinful. Apart from God and His guidance, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes we did in the past. On our own, we are impure, and will long to do impurity always.

Photo from Google

And so, we are to be paranoid about purity. You cannot NOT think of impure things, you will, and that's for sure. It is somehow similar to don't think of a white elephant test. You can't help it but think of a white elephant. The only way for you to NOT think of it, is to fill your mind with something else.

What I mean by being paranoid about purity is, being paranoid to all circumstances in your life, knowing that most of them are pointing to impurities. Being at watch, and on guard at all times to intentionally look at Jesus' beauty.

It encourages you, therefore, to pursue pleasing God with your thoughts, actively. I learned that the devil will only attack you when you are in constant connection with God. The devil is threaten, that's why he wants you to fall.

The question now is, how do I know when I am passively tempted, or the devil is tempting me? It's easy to discern, if you did not carry your cross today, then most probably you are just being passively tempted and enticed by your own evil desire (v. 14).

With all these said, James, the author has an encouragement for us. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he said that: 

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 

James 1:5-6

The context of this verse is when we are under a test. In the viewpoint of the devil, it's temptation. His goal is to pull us down. But God uses those things to produce perseverance in us, that we may mature and complete, not lacking in anything (v. 4).

And God reminds us that when we are in those times of testing, let us ask wisdom from Him. Claim it, because He will give it to us.

Being paranoid about purity is made possible, because of Him who gives wisdom and strength to obey Him, generously. In the end, it is not pursuing purity for the sake of purity. Because that idea will only lead to impurity, in a sense that we will become self-righteous. 

The only way to attain purity is to fill your mind with not just "other things", rather fill your mind with "the one that really matters". Everything still points to Jesus, who is the only pure creature who ever lived. Those who are in Him will be cleansed, and are therefore no longer condemned (John 3:18). And those who are in Him will be given a pure heart, and therefore will see God (Matthew 5:8).

I am not asking you to not think about impurity. I am asking you to guard your mind and heart, and look at Jesus, the healer, the cleanser, the satisfier, the source of all purity.