THE PURITY TEST

Purity =  the state of being free from sin, evil or moral wrong; lacking a knowledge of evil; the quality or condition of being pure; freedom from adulterating matter; cleanness or clearness; innocence; chastity.

When I think about the subject, “Purity” Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego immediately comes to my mind. These young men who were taken from their family and nation maintained their integrity and purity. They were not swayed or tempted to indulge in worldly pleasures, but they held on to their religious convictions. I am sure you know their stories so allow me to give a brief summary of the purity test event in their lives.

Let me start with Joseph. During his childhood, Joseph had two dreams in which he was exalted above his ten brothers and parents. When he shared these dreams with his brothers, it made them angry. Plus, they were mad at him because their father loved him greatly and showed him preferential treatment. Therefore, when given the opportunity to get rid of him, they sold him to Ishmaelite merchants who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an officer, and captain of Pharaoh’s guards.

God prospered and blessed Joseph in the house of Potiphar and Potiphar made him the overseer of his household. Potiphar’s wife became attracted to Joseph and repeatedly attempted to seduce him, but Joseph refused to become sexually involved with her. He told her, “Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”(Genesis 39:8-9). This made her angry, and she was able to frame Joseph and say to Potiphar that Joseph attempted to rape her. Consequently, Potiphar believed his wife and had innocent Joseph put into prison. Joseph, if he wanted, could have had a secret affair with Potiphar’s wife, but due to his relationship with God, he made a conscious decision not to compromise himself.

The other purity test took place in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and took the young men of royalty that displayed great scholastic abilities into his palace to indoctrinate them in the ways and culture of Babylon. Among these young men were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The program that these young men were placed in was to last three years, and during that time, they were fed a diet of food and wine that was against the laws of their God. Knowing this, Daniel requested the steward Melzar to allow them to eat pulse and drink water for ten days and then compare them to the other young men that were eating the king’s meat and drinking wine. At the conclusion of the trial period, their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter than the other trainees; so, they were permitted to continue with their restricted diet. And listen to how God blessed them after their three-year training, “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. And among them all was found none like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” (Daniel 1:17, 19b-20)

Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all passed the purity test. Amid pressure, they remained pure. Though in a foreign land they held on to the God of their forefathers and God blessed and rewarded them for their actions for all of them became great leaders.

In the age in which we are presently living in, with continued temptations to yield to the allurements of this world, it behooves believers to stand firm like these four young men and no doubt the results will be the blessings and favor of God on our lives.