Be Ye Separate - In the World But Not of It
Hello Friends,
"I can't stand going to work anymore." These were the exasperated words of a friend of ours. "I know what the Lord is calling me to do," she said, "but every moment of my working day is committed to my employer."
Our friend is reaching the end of her rope. Every day she faces difficult customers, including the local police. Her working day is spent serving the world, and it leaves her drained and tired. Her heart yearns to work for the Kingdom of Heaven, but a vicious cycle of expenses and debt drive her further and further into slavery.
We thought about her situation and said, "All we know is that we would rather be poor with heavenly riches than work for the devil and live in comfort. If we are content with a humble lifestyle, then having enough is a feast." We suggested that our friend get out of debt and then quit her job.
She agreed, "but how do I do it?" she asked.
Three Levels of Separation
What do you do when you realize the whole world is under the control of the evil one? (1 John 5:19) How do you go about separating?
To separate doesn't necessarily mean to keep apart physically. According to Webster's 1828 dictionary, the word "separate" means to disunite, to divide, to sever. To separate implies leaving something you were once a part of.
As followers of Christ, we are called to separate from everything which is not approved by our Heavenly Father. We are to be in the world, but not of it. He wants us pure and unspotted from the world (James 1:27).
Separation is done at three levels. It is similar to refining gold. During the first stage, big hunks of impurities are separated out. Then in the next stages, more imperfections are removed until you have a finely polished bar of gold. That's just what the Father wants with us. And it takes several steps until we are finally purified.
[Christ] (Who) gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14
The first stage of separation is simply separation from outward sin. The next level is separation from the thoughts of sin. And the third stage is separation from organizations that promote sin.
Jesus starts His ministry by commanding separation. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent! for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). In other words, change your direction. Stop pleasing yourself and start pleasing God. Apostle Paul says it this way, "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22).
This first level of separation, from sin itself, is even taught by the churches that are in harlotry with the world. Most people, if they try, can comply, at least outwardly.
Most people never get beyond this personal level of cleaning the outside of the cup. But Jesus goes even further. And this is where it starts getting to be a rough road.
Jesus also requires separating from even the thoughts of sin. On this second level, we purge from our heart even our desire to sin. We don't just stop sinning. We stop THINKING about it.
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27
This is an example of that second level of separating from sin. By even thinking about committing adultery, you have already sinned.
Godly Repentance
Years ago a godly preacher tried to teach me this higher level of repentance. He caught me pulling a prank. I was 14 and attending Church camp. I hated being awakened early in the morning by the sound of the bell, so I found a ladder and removed the rope from the bell so it could not ring. Then the camp started using car horns to wake us. But then I disconnected the horns.
Finally, I got caught in the very act by this preacher. As he walked me back to my cabin, I told him how sorry I was. The preacher paused and looked me straight in the eyes, "Joe, are you sorry because you got caught, or are you sorry because it was wrong?"
He knew that if I was sorry merely because I got nabbed, I would be pulling another prank at my first opportunity. But if I was sorry because I knew it was wrong, I would change my ways. This is godly sorrow.
Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "Be born again!" That's a little different from merely repenting. We cannot be merely born of the flesh. We must also be born of the Spirit. Through this new birth of the spirit, we enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, into God's government. It means putting away the old man with all his lusts and desires and becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus. This is hard to grasp, but the Holy Spirit will help in our weakness and lead us into all Truth.
Separating from Babylon
The next level of separation is not just separating from sin, but separating from organizations that promote sin. Have no connection with them.
The devil tempts us to belong to the world, just as Jesus was tempted. "I will give you all the kingdoms of the world if you will just fall down and worship me." (Matthew 4:9) Doors will be open if you just pay homage to the Beast. There are many benefits and privileges that are dangled before us. Warning: If participation requires swearing an oath, watch out. It is from the evil one (Matthew 5:37).
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
Live in peace with one another and be holy. Maintain your status as a foreigner, a citizen of Heaven. James warns us not to take part in their schemes.
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4
Anyone who attempts to separate from the kingdoms of darkness will become a prey for the world to attack. Jesus says,
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you (John 15:19).
That's a difficult one. We are called to be a holy nation, a people set apart from the nations of the world (1 Peter 2:9). And that means we will be persecuted.
Nobody wants persecution and suffering. But when do we get out? Are we to keep participating with them and hope God is not offended? Are we called to come out of Babylon even if the nation we are part of appears benevolent?
"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4) Do we dare wait for Babylon to fall before we disconnect from her? Or will that be too late?
If we come out, where do we go? How do we separate when every place we work and everywhere we turn, we are surrounded by those whose sins are reaching to heaven?
Employment
The world has been divided up into territories. They want to oversee our activities. That is a big problem. But all is not futile. There are some things we can do to separate before that hour when God throws evildoers into the lake of fire and the righteous enter into life eternal.
First, we can quit working in their offices, factories, and stores. That means don't take jobs offered by the world system. Don't work for the things that perish (John 6:27). Yes, we are commanded to work, but we are commanded to work for God. Everything we do in word and deed, we do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17).
We must remain separate. We are outsiders - pilgrims and strangers, citizens of the heavenly country.
There are many jobs you cannot fill. You have to come out. You cannot be participating with them. The reason is that you must agree to work under their terms. You must comply with their methods and their rules. But you belong to Christ and obey His commands. How can Christ make an agreement with Belial? You can't do it. How can you tie the two together? You cannot. Christ will not share the throne with those who are in rebellion to Him (Psalm 94:20). How can two walk together unless they be agreed? (Amos 3:3).
The most comprehensive passage in the Scripture on separation says,
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
If you are currently employed, complete your obligations, settle your debts, and then quit. Come out. Begin living by faith. Promote the Kingdom of Heaven, not the kingdoms of the world. Then you will be sons and daughters of the Most High.
Wake up and repent. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
