The people of God are called out [church] from the world, sanctified, separated unto God by faith. This is to be holy, called out from impurity to purity in Christ. We are to be vessels in a “great house” for service unto God (II Tim. 2:20-21). “A vessel unto honor” is the calling of a Christian.
As precious vessels are prepared for serving in a great house, so is a Christian to be prepared for service unto God. This preparation starts in charity [love] from God for us and in return our charity toward God (John 14:15, 21). At the heart of doing what is right is our love for God. Jesus said so. Those who seek to do as little as possible or skirt the commandments of Christ don’t love as they should. It’s a good point of self evaluation. What’s the attitude toward receiving God’s word and doing it? When answered honestly it will gauge one’s measure of love and faith. Closely connected is the concept of peace (I Tim. 2:2). We’re to love God, serve Him, and pray for leaders that we may lead “quiet and peaceable” lives “in all godliness and honesty.” Doing what’s right, out of genuine love, brings true peace. In an impure and wicked world, it’s hard to get one’s true bearing in purity. Jesus Christ calls all to absolute purity (I Pet. 1:15-16). Some seem to think He calls to just a little bit of purity. Check it, God calls us to be “holy” as He is holy. It’s in the purity of holiness we’re precious vessels unto honor.
The purity of marriage and the home is the designed starting point of God. This is the way He made it. Purity should start in the home by design (Gen. 2:23-25). If the devil can corrupt the home, then a great part of his destructive work is done. The nurturing center from creation has been the home (Deut. 6:4-9). The building block of society and the Kingdom is the home. In the home the image of motherhood should be the image of purity. Mary the mother of Jesus was noted for her purity (Luke 1:34). Listen if you will to people speak of purity in the home and most times mom is mentioned. Now make no mistake, dad should be pure, too. Vessels of honor are made in Christian homes.
As a precious vessel we are to be examples to the world. My mother kept a collection of precious China only used on special occasions. Christians, like fine China, should be the example, the best in the world. We’re to be lights to the world of darkness (Matt. 5:14-16), in manner of life exemplary (I Tim. 4:12), that the world may see Christ through us. We wouldn’t think of serving a guest in our home out of a dirty dish, neither should we rejoice in serving a holy, holy, holy God from a life tainted with worldly filth. Christ nowhere taught a spirit of compromise in purity. The devil does teach compromise and appears to be very effective in the world and church, today. We are to be vessels of honor to God. When our body is sanctified in purity, our life is profitable to the Master. The Christian has been washed in “pure water” (John 3:3-5; Heb. 10:22), a beautiful bride unto Christ (Eph. 5:22ff).
Flee youthful lusts (II Tim. 2:22) serve the Lord in purity of heart and life. Be “a vessel unto honor.”
-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College
