My knees were feeling stiff, it must be the "cold" weather (54 degrees and rainy here in Charlotte, NC) so i went for a walk. I live in a suburb being built over top the ruins of an ancient civilization: Heritage USA. In case you are unfamiliar, Heritage was home to PTL, the ministry of Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker. When i walk, i cannot help but see relics of the past, some decrepid, some in restoration. As i looked on these images today i impulsively donned my proverbial judiciary gown and said in my heart, "How could so many people have fallen for this?" Without pause a simple answer came: "To the pure, all things are pure."

In case you're wondering, as i did, it is indeed a bible verse: Titus 1:15.

I then thought of the thousands of pure-hearted people that came searching for Jesus and i realized that they found Him. The pure in heart will always find Jesus, no matter where they are, no matter what is going on. That too is an eternal truth from scripture, my friend:

" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

 And i would add that God sees them 1 Samuel 16:7, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 34:15...

Other things are fading away, and will not be remembered. But, the movements of a pure heart, they will be remembered forever. In His grace, God will see and remember our names and the works we did in love. He will forget works that were done in selfish ambition, vain striving, even the well-intentioned "good" works performed without His leading or partnership. All of these will burn and be forgotten.

It is my personal conviction that no ministry, good or bad, will be remembered in eternity. No church's name will be recorded in God's book. No international organization will be memorialized. Only people. Pure-hearted people and the works of love they performed. I'm not anti-ministry. I run one. It's called "peopleonahill" and i don't think God cares about that name in the least bit. I don't believe He'll remember it. Praise the Lord! But, because of His kindness toward me, He'll remember me and every life He allowed me to touch and every person who showed me kindness and every movement that was made in love.

For now, there are all kinds of groups that have all kinds of names and they are known on the earth for all kinds of things; some good, some bad. We interact with such groups because we live here. But, the groups and their names and their corporate reputations and achievements will not be remembered. Only individual hearts and the way those hearts interacted with others.

A pure heart (which, btw, is a gift from God) can find Jesus anywhere. It will find Jesus in the midst of a group that has a bad reputation. It will find Jesus in the midst of a group that has a good reputation. It will find Jesus in the woods and in the car and in the funeral parlor and in the subway, in the alley and the bathroom stall, the slum, the asylum, in the crowd and in isolation...

Instead of pronouncing my imaginary verdicts, i ought to be petitioning the Lord for a pure heart.

Join me?