“SEPARATE FROM THEM!”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18                          (ESV)

“14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

15 What accord has CHRIST with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

16 What agreement has the temple of GOD with idols? For we are the temple of the living GOD; as GOD said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their GOD, and they shall be MY people. 

17 Therefore GO OUT FROM THEIR MIDST, and be “SEPARATE FROM THEM”, says the LORD, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 

18 and I will be a FATHER to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to ME, says the LORD ALMIGHTY."”

GOD calls for HIS CHOSEN to live “separate” from this world!  So why do I constantly find myself doing everything I can to assimilate myself into the exact same pattern that the so-called successful people in this world have set, trying to be “one of them”?  Or what about even doing what other believers say that I should be doing?  While I am a part of the family called the local church, GOD still has a direct line of communication with me that HE uses.  Usually, the main interference I experience is that I won’t SLOW DOWN and listen to HIM, instead trying to be a success in “this world”!  

So what if I become a success by the standard of this world?  JESUS (GOD IN THE FLESH) said in Matthew 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”  How will you justify earthly riches at THE JUDGEMENT SEAT?  The wealthiest person alive reportedly has over $100 Billion dollars, but one day he IS GOING TO DIE, and then the JUDGEMENT (Hebrews 9:27)!  How much wealth can you send on before you?  Only by investing in HIS KINGDOM can you receive ETERNAL REWARDS!  

Recording what we earn/make in “this world” is mandated by most governments.  We are required to pay taxes on the earnings we are blessed by ALMIGHTY GOD with, to the authorities (Matthew 12:21).  But ALMIGHTY GOD is recording what our account is in HEAVEN, not what we accumulate here on earth!  It is totally SEPARATE from what we see on an earthly Balance Sheet!  That is because we are CALLED to be “SEPARATE FROM THEM” in our lives and actions.  

Being “SEPARATE FROM THEM” will most likely appear to cost us in earthly terms!  But GOD keeps a different set of books than the ones our bank or government does.  The system HE uses is totally “SEPARATE FROM THEM”, and most of us are unable to SEE that.  OPEN MY EYES, O GOD, and cause me to be “SEPARATE FROM THEM” in everything I do!!!