THE PURPOSE OF SEPARATION
Would you enter a room of people who you knew had the flu? What do you do when you know germs and disease are present? Do you run into those situations and see how much sickness and disease you can take in? Needless to say, you get away and stay away . . . separate yourself . . . as far as you can from anything that would cause you to be sick or get some kind of disease. The reason we separate ourselves from sickness and disease in the natural is so we remain healthy and productive. We don’t want anything to get us down or make us feel bad.
As believers, we too should be concerned about things getting us down or making us feel bad. We should stay away from fleshly and spiritual things that cause us to contract spiritual “germs” and “diseases”. The Bible passage in 2 Corinthians 6:16-17:1 addresses this separation. We find specific exhortation spoken as a direct command from the Lord Almighty which should be heeded. The command comes with great promises and specific guidance.
“ . . . (believers) come out from among them (unbelievers), 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. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:16-17:1
The Instruction:
- Separate yourselves (believers) from among them (unbelievers).
The Guidance:
- Take not within yourselves the unbeliever’s philosophies or behaviors.
- Stay away from anything that contaminates your relationship with God.
- Display God-likeness in your conduct by behaving in a way that is controlled by a reverential awe of God.
The Promises:
- God will receive you.
- God will be your Father.
- God will allow you to be His child.
God doesn’t want His children to be spiritually polluted and diseased by the ways of the world. Let us heed the instruction of the Lord Almighty who tells us to separate ourselves in our behavior from those who are not God’s children. Let’s be guided in conducting ourselves in a godly manner of life that has a reverential awe of God. Following this instruction and guidance will ensure a fellowship with God as His child and have Him as our Father.
May God enable us in these last days to behave ourselves in a manner that causes Him to generously lavish on us the promise of a close, intimate relationship with Him. May we separate ourselves from any behaviors that would cause us to be less than the holy, god-like person God desires us to be as His child.
Additional Thoughts
The promises of God are strong inducements to sanctification. ~Matthew Henry
Christians (are) obliged, by that peculiar gracious presence of God which they enjoy, or may enjoy, to separate themselves from the society of the ungodly, and from all their sinful practices, customs, and habits. ~Benson Commentary
