"The Pure of Heart"

"Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." (Psalms 34:14) Okay, so now we come to the part where the rubber meets the road in our spiritual walk; basically, what that means is, this is the effect that must take place when action is required from within us. Typically, this is the natural reaction that must take place in the new life of every believer; and generally speaking, it is the natural way that we begin our Spirit filled life: by having turned from evil, and doing good, which is to set out in the direction that is pleasing to God. The problem that happens to befall upon almost each and every one of us, is that somewhere alone the way we make compromises in the straight path, and establish little detours along the way. These are the harsh realities of the outside world; but it is really not something that we are to be associated with any longer; but, old habits are really hard to break. Interesting enough, the first part of this verse is what we must be doing, and naturally start off in the direction of; but the second part of this verse, is the way we continue in doing and achieving, going down that "straight and narrow road". Having been around the block a few times, I can tell you something that I have learned about sinning and getting away with it: you really do not get away with anything! You might think that you have gotten away with something, because no one saw you, and there was no direct harm done to anyone from what you did; but do not fool yourself in believing the devil, because as soon as he is done enticing in sin by telling you that lie, he will be accusing you of the sin that you have committed. It's really a no-win situation, without the second part of this verse above, which is, "seek peace, and pursue it"! Let me give you a little example of what I am trying to say, and I will use 'war and peace' to explain it. Let's say you have two countries that have been at war forever, and they have finally come to a place where they have laid their weapons down, and are finally at peace with one another; in essence, they have quit playing war, and have now decided to start playing nice. The problem that remains are all the different fractions that remain between them, and it's only a matter of time, and they will be back at war again; therefore, they must endeavor to establish a bond between themselves, and build upon common interest and goals; thereby making what was once at opposites, one of the same, so that their children grow up with those things in common. Now, just in case you think that I am trying to make this into something we do in our own strength, think again; because what I just explained was the seeking part, as in, "seek peace". The "pursue it" part of the equation involves pray, perseverance, and a whole lot of God's Spirit... "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she is married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:1-6)