Pollution Problem
Pollution Problem
The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. (Matt. 5:8)
The Problem
In Romans 7:24, Paul exclaims, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body?” Can you relate to this? Our sin nature is ever present, constantly tempting us to do what we know we shouldn’t. If we are honest with ourselves—like Paul was in Romans 7—then we’ve got a real pollution problem. Instead of a pure heart, we have a tainted one.
Scripture shows us that sin hinders our ability to see God—to see where He’s leading us, what His plan is for us, what He wants to teach us, and how He’s answering our prayers (or why He’s not).
The Cleanup
If we want to see clearly how to live for God, we have to deal with our pollution problem. Here’s how:
Step 1. Stop polluting the heart with sin. Ask yourself, What kind of company do I keep? What kind of jokes do I laugh at? What kind of movies and entertainment do I watch? What websites do I visit?
Step 2. Ask for God’s help in dealing with the remnants of pollution already in your heart. Is there any resentment or unforgiveness you need to deal with? Is there something you need to confess or apologize for?
Step 3. Take a daily dose of grime prevention—spend time in God’s Word.
Bottom Line
Having a pure heart requires commitment and discipline that won’t always come easy. The good news is that God offers His help.