Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
Show of hands, how many had ever heard of the ermine before reading this title? I will be the first to admit that I have known of this fascinating little creature for less than a week now, but I am thankful to have heard of it. This little animal is a type of weasel that is native to northern Europe and Asia. The name ermine refers to its coat in its winter phase when it turns white as snow. It was historically used in the European fur trade, especially for royalty. The fur hunters turned one of its natural instincts against it in order to make it an easy mark for trapping. The ermine instinctively protects its white winter coat against anything that would soil it, and it will stop at nothing to keep its fur spotless. So, the hunters began smearing different types of grime on the entry to the ermine’s burrow. Because of the ermine’s purity instinct, it will not enter its burrow if it is soiled, even if it is being chased by dogs. In short, the ermine would rather die than soil its pristine white coat.
By now you may have surmised why this little critter is an apt illustration for Christian living. Throughout the Scriptures, God calls His people to be spiritually pure. In Leviticus 11:44, God called for the Israelites to “…consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves…” In Numbers 15:38-40, they were instructed to make tassels on the corner of their garments with a blue cord attached to each one. The purpose in the cord was to remind them of the commandments of God to which they were bound, so that they would “…be holy to your God.” In Psalm 119:9, the Psalmist asked the rhetorical question, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to your word.” In Acts 22:16, Paul was instructed to “…arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Paul instructed the Corinthians to “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). He later told the Thessalonians that God desired that each one should “…possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor” (1 Thessalonians 4:4). Peter urged his readers likewise to be holy as He who called them was holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).
This list could continue indefinitely, but this well illustrates the point. Knowing that God called us to lives of purity, we must set our minds like the fascinating little ermine that we will keep our “coats” free from defilements at all costs. God told the Israelites He would wash their sins, though they be like scarlet, to make them as white as snow. The prerequisite to this cleansing was that they be willing and obedient. If they rebelled, they would be devoured by the sword (Isaiah 1:18-20). Nothing has changed in God’s demands and our benefits or consequences. Jesus said to the church in Sardis, those who do not defile their garments, “…shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Revelation 3:4-5).
So, let us emulate the ermine and choose to lay down our very lives before we allow sin’s defilements to soil our coats. As Jude said, “…others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 23). Thankfully, we all know the love God has bestowed on us and the glorious ends it brings to the faithful because “…everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3).