WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SEPARATE?

II CORINTHIANS 6:17-18: “Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”

OBSERVATION: What does it mean to be separate, to – “…come out from among them.”? The call to holiness has been a continual debate in the church since its inception. Many have tried to establish communities that were completely separated from society to be separate. Others chose to mingle and live as if there was no difference between a Christian and a non-Christian.

The answer is always found in looking to the whole counsel of God’s Word. Jesus called us to be in the world but not of the world. We were not called to live on a mountaintop or build separate communities with walls to keep out those who do not believe. We were called to live in the world as shining lights to show the reality of God’s love and grace.

Yet – the believer is called to live a separate life. It is to be separate from sin but not from sinners. It is to let our light shine in the darkness. Not as a sign of our superiority, but as a beacon of hope helping the lost find their way to Jesus Christ. It is to choose love over fear, righteousness over sin, forgiveness over hatred, and faith over doubt. It is not wearing a Christian T-shirt. It is being clothed in the love of Christ in sincere humility and repentance.

A believer who is living a life that is separate from the world will not be hiding from the world. They will be reaching out to the world with love and the invitation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They will not participate in the world’s sin, and they will not condemn the sinner. They will simply let their light shine in the darkness so that those who are lost in sin can find their way to the cross.

The light of God’s love and His Word will bring conviction to those who are living in darkness. They will be faced with a choice. It will be a choice to turn to the light (Jesus) or to retreat into the darkness. There will be no middle ground. The middle ground is a life of compromise. It is a life that is trying to be unequally yoked with both light and darkness. It is from this middle ground that God calls His people to “…come out and be separate!”

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:15-19

God is calling me. God is calling the church. God is calling every believer to be zealous and repent! We need to be living as Jesus lived when He walked the earth. Our lives need to be lights that are shining brightly with the love and life of Jesus Christ. We need to be in the world but not of the world. We need to be those who bring life and light into every dark place that we find ourselves in. We can only do this as we live separate from the world – but in the world through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord, help me to hear the voice of Your Spirit calling me –

“Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”

In Jesus’ Name!