In Greek, the word ‘pure’ is translated as ‘katharos,’ which means to be clean and pure – physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s the opposite of those who have one foot in the world and one foot in the church, never fully committing their hearts completely to God. It’s the opposite of phoniness. It’s the opposite of hypocrisy. Purity is being genuine. It is a devoted loyalty. It is a person who has no ulterior motives.

Those qualities sound good, don’t they? Purity, however, is not something that’s easily experienced in our life. It’s downright unnatural because of our sinfulness. In Matthew 15:19-20, Jesus says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications (that’s any kind of sexual immorality), thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”

In other words, Jesus is saying the real problem lies in our sinful hearts. We are not naturally pure and we can’t achieve it through our own efforts. Purity comes with a cleansed heart. It’s something we receive – through repentant faith in Jesus Christ. The only way to be pure is to be cleansed of any impurity. And the only way to stay clean and pure is by trusting Jesus with total devotion. When we do, we see God (Matt. 5:8).

Most religions have the desire to see God, to experience God. But most religions center around mankind trying to earn their way to God. Some claim it’s through repeating different religious rituals, while others argue God can only be reached through earning enough good works or living a moral life. Then there’s Christianity, where God has reached down to mankind through His ultimate revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ. This means that when Christ died on the cross for our sins, He offered us God’s mercy —something that we do not deserve and cannot earn. We receive forgiveness of sin. With forgiveness comes God’s cleansing (purification), and with confession and repentance comes cleansing. With each confession and repentance – over and over and over again, we are transformed.

Do you want to see God? Do you want to experience radical life change and transformation? Put your faith in Jesus and allow Him to cleanse your heart. Because with a pure heart, Jesus promises that you will see and experience God.