"For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)
In the nineties, one of the most popular songs of the time was It's My Life by Dr Alban. It was played almost daily on the radio. That song expresses the attitude of society as a whole today. People do whatever they want to. They will moan bitterly about criminals who commit heinous crimes, yet they will break the speed limit and go through red lights whenever it pleases them. Unfortunately, this mentality has permeated the church as well. Paul addresses this attitude in no uncertain terms in this passage. Let us see what he has to say.
Paul's Call for Purity
Paul summarises what God's will is for all of us in one word, "sanctification." It is not about career choice, prosperity, health, who one should marry, ministry, or any of the things that the people in the world chase after in order to find happiness, but it is sanctification. The process of being set apart from common usage, belonging to God, and being made pure.
Note that Paul follows this immediately with sexual purity. The point he is making here is that how a person behaves in the bedroom, and how one thinks in their heart regarding such things, is not something private, but rather is something that is going to effect one's relationship with God. In the ancient world, people believed that what went on in the bedroom was completely private and no-one knew what went on. In today's world, it seems as though people want others to know about their sexual behaviours, but they do not want anyone to judge them for it. Homosexuals will tell you openly that they are homosexual, but do not dare tell them that they are living in sin. That God is going to judge them. In their minds they can do what they want and it is not God's business. Our text says otherwise - it is God's business, and He is going to hold them accountable.
An interesting point in our text here is the word "vessel." In the Greek, it is the same word that Peter uses to refer to a man's wife (see 1 Peter 3:7). The implication here then is not only should we not be defiling our own physical bodies, as already has been implied in the rest of the text, but also that we should not be defiling our spouses either. That we should not be expecting them to do things that they either do not want to do, or would be considered to be defiling to them.
Live in Purity
Our lives here on earth are preparation for life in eternity with the Lord. It is a process of sanctification. We will never be perfect here on earth, but Paul is urging us to work towards that end. We are to abstain from all forms of defiling acts and to encourage others to do the same. We are to address our sin by recognising it in our lives, confessing it, and repenting of it.
How is your journey towards sanctification? Have you made this your ultimate goal in life, or are you chasing after the things in this world that promise happiness? Are you keeping your body and your marriage bed pure? Though others may not know or see what is going on, God is watching. He knows your thoughts and sees your actions
Choose today to do the will of God, to live a life of purity and preparation for heaven. Follow the path of sanctification that He has laid out for you. Pray for God's help, for you cannot do it on your own, and trust Him to make you into the person that He has created you to be, for life is not about the here and now, it is about the glory, worship and wonder that is to come as we live in eternity with our Lord.
Just a Thought!
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