(2Corinthians 6:17) “Therefore go out from
their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean
thing; and I will welcome you.”
Gratefully the closer we draw near to
Christ the nearer He draws unto us. However the same applies for the world with
all its smut! ““Yes,” says the world, “be spiritually minded by
all means, but do not deny yourself a little gay society, an occasional ball,
and a Christmas visit to a theatre. What’s the good of crying down a thing when
it is so fashionable, and everybody does it?” Multitudes of professors yield to
this cunning advice, to their own eternal ruin. If we would follow the Lord
wholly, we must go right away into the wilderness of separation, and leave the
Egypt of the carnal world behind us. We must leave its maxims, its pleasures,
and its religion too, and go far away to the place where the Lord calls his
sanctified ones.” (Charles Spurgeon)
Remember the father of faith’s example, Abraham! We
too can learn much from his flawless example; after affording Abraham his long
awaited promise, Isaac; did there not come a day were God said, “Let me test
Him?” He was asked to go on a journey, to leave the comforts of home and to
sacrifice his son Isaac! Let us dwell here, pause and contemplate the enormousness
of God’s request… I am not sure there could be any greater test for a father!
And yet God gave up His Son for us, the enemies of the cross! There is no one
greater than God our Father, praise His name!
The testing of our loyalties to God must become ubiquitous
in our lives, one way or the other! The closer we draw nigh unto the Lord the more
obvious testing becomes a reality! Although separation from this world is
require we articulate to ourselves that it is very lonely place to be and we
ask the question is that really necessary? Those types of thoughts have been
designed to keep the fruits of the Spirit far from us. “O to be more like our
Saviour”, must be our cry! “The further from a viper the better, and the
further from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the
trumpet-call be sounded, “Come ye out from among them, be ye separate.” (Charles Spurgeon)
What
chance do we have with so many loitering attractable lolly-pops beckoning us to
come a little closer, appealing to our senses? They appear so palatable and yet
they are so fattening to the soul; leaving us sluggish and unfit for the
Masters use! They leave our minds off-balance and cause us to lose our way and
before long we find ourselves asking the question, “How did I end up here?” I
have heard many reputable preachers say, “God doesn’t mind people having abundance.”
Be that as it may, the greater our need the more we will cry out unto our God!
The more we will depend upon Him! Maybe I speak out of turn but that is most
certainly my experience! Either way it is imperative for the sake of our souls
to remain far from the viper! And yet at times we like to see how close we can
actually get. May God forgive us! Thank you Father for your patience even with your
wayward children and thank you for your willingness to teach even me! O to get
a glimpse of what it means when God says that He is able to save even the most
unruly of men; “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost
those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make
intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) – Thank you Lord Jesus!
All
I know that when David was idle in the palace while his trusted men were at war,
with the palace indulgences available to him. It was at that indolent time of
his life that he fell into sin with Bathsheba and in turn that became a very
trying time of his life! There where consequences to his sin; he lost his son
and later on in life his son Absalom rose up against him, looking to overthrow
him and kill him! But it was at that time of this hardship that his fellowship
with God was sweet! Away from the comforts of this world, far from the comforts
of the palace; fleeing for his life, enemies pressing him hard on every side; “David
was now in great grief; when, in his flight, he went up the Mount of Olives, he
wept greatly, with his head covered, and marching bare-foot; yet then he
composed this comfortable psalm. He wept and prayed, wept and sung, wept and
believed; this was sowing in tears. Is any afflicted? Let him pray; nay, let
him sing psalms, let him sing this psalm. Is any afflicted with undutiful
disobedient children? David was; and yet that did not hinder his joy in God,
nor put him out of tune for holy songs. 2. He was now in great danger; the plot
against him was laid deep, the party that sought his ruin was very formidable,
and his own son at the head of them, so that his affairs seemed to be at the
last extremity; yet then he kept hold of his interest in God and
improved that. Perils and frights should drive us to God, not drive us from
him.” (Matthew Henry) – Exposition from psalm
3
So
here then is the instruction and the reward, which will be very sweat for all who
obey the voice of God. Although sacrifice will become part of our lives, it is
obedience that God requires from His children! God help us to instill this mind-set
deep within the hidden ravines of our minds and souls driving us to find His
will for our lives. Remember it is God the Holy Spirit’s work who turns our
eyes away from self; but Satan looks to do the exact oppose; let us be of this
mind to constantly look to our God as we find His grace looking to Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith!
“Therefore
go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no
unclean thing; and I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and
daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." (2Corinthians 6:17-18)
Signing off
Tyrone
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