Be Ye Separate Saith the Lord

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:6-9

Some amendments that were passed by some states during the recent General Election revealed how far America has moved from the values upon which this country was founded. We witnessed same sex marriages approved by some states, as well as, the legalization of marijuana in others. These approvals will soon be signed by the respective state governors and become law, if it has not already been done so. Needless to say, this sinful activity is against God’s law and He is definitely not pleased.

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:11

The Apostle Paul warned the saints “that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). The scriptures characterizes these times the best; “for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affections, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:2-5). Further, Paul exhorts the saints at Thessalonica that the spirit of apostasy (a great falling away from the faith in Christ) would prevail and Antichrist, “who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped” (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

The church of the living God must stand, with continued boldness and fervor, teaching and preaching more so than ever declaring “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). The body of baptized believers cannot idly standby and waver in its witness letting everyone know that the “works of the flesh” cannot inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Compromise is not an issue in warning “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world… all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16). The good news to every abominable and destructive sinful behavior is when confession of sin is made, “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Not just a temporary confession of sin but being transformed by the power of God into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Only then can an individual live “in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life” (St. Luke 1:75).

Lastly, God’s people are not exempt and are held accountable to this great God we sing about and offer praise to. Our daily holy and righteous example must precede any piety expressed in the sanctuary. Apostle Paul said it best when he exhorted the saints at Philippi how they should present themselves in an ungodly world: “that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

May this godly standard be the daily conduct of the saints in the 21st century.