And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:4 NLT
Light might well be good since it sprang from that good decree, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). We who enjoy it should be more grateful for it than we are, and see more of God in it and by it. Physical light is said by Solomon to be sweet (Ecclesiastes 11:7), but gospel light is infinitely more precious, for it reveals eternal things and ministers to our immortal nature. When the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual light and opens our eyes to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, we behold sin in its true colors and ourselves in our real position. We see the Most Holy God as He reveals himself, the plan of mercy as He defines it, and the world to come as the Word describes it. Spiritual light has many beams and prismatic colors, but whether they are knowledge, joy, holiness, or life, all are divinely good. If the light we receive is good, what must the light source be? How glorious must be the place where He reveals himself! Oh, Lord, since light is so good, give us more of it—and more of yourself, the true light. But no sooner is there a good thing in the world than a division is necessary. Light and darkness have no communion; God has divided them, let us not confuse them. Sons of light must not have fellowship with deeds, doctrines, or deceits of darkness. The children of the day must be sober, honest, and bold in their Lord’s work, leaving the works of darkness to those who shall dwell in it forever. Our churches should by discipline divide the light from the darkness, and we individually, by our distinct separation from the world, should do the same. In judgment, in action, in hearing, in teaching, and in association, we must discern between the precious and the vile, and maintain the great distinction which the Lord made upon the world’s first day. Oh, Lord Jesus, be our light throughout the whole of this day, for your light is the light of men. - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
Neither did they say, “Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness?” Jeremiah 2:6
Christianity is an intimate, growing relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. It is not a set of doctrines to believe, habits to practice, or sins to avoid. Every activity God commands is intended to enhance His love relationship with His people. God designed worship for us to see Him in His glory and to respond appropriately; for many it has degenerated into “religion,” one more meeting to attend out of habit. God established the sacrificial system so that we, His people, could express our love to Him; but we often diminish our gifts to our Lord into futile attempts to appease Him and to pacify our guilty conscience. God gave us prayer so we could have conversation with Him, but we often distort this by “saying prayers” and hurrying off without ever listening to what is on our Father's heart. God instituted His commandments as a protection for those He loves, but the commandments can become a pathway to legalism rather than an avenue for a relationship with our Father in which He protects us from harm. The people of Jeremiah's day were satisfied to have the ritual without the manifest presence of God. They became so comfortable with their “religion” that they didn’t even notice God's absence. Is it possible to pray, to attend a worship service, or to give an offering, yet not to experience the presence of God? It certainly is possible! And that has been the sad commentary on many a Christian experience. Don’t settle for a religious life that lacks a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. When God is present, the difference will be obvious.
- Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day
It's been heavily in the news and heavily on the hearts of Godly people, this infusion of incorrect information and doctrines in the Church today. This misinformation and false teachings are the very same that Paul warned the early Church about.
1 Corinthians 6:11-20 "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."
Read that in context. Such WERE some of you. It's a very popular thing these days for people to yell back across the aisle at immigrants to stop trying to make America into the very mess they fled from.
It happens within the Church as well. Today there is at least one denomination heading for a split because they cannot agree to hold fast to what the Bible says.
In the past centuries since Christianity began that is the crux of every split. Who will follow what God says and who will try to be friends with the world instead and compromise.
So what else does the Bible say?
"This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5 NASB
God does not compromise on sin or on His definition of it. He does not permit His Church to do things or represent Himself in a way that is against His nature.
People seek Him to allow compromises because of the way sinful people are. God says no. The wages of sin is death. There are no extenuating circumstances to permit it in the Church.
If the nature of people were an excuse then dying on a cross wasn't entirely necessary!
Oh we don't have enough men to be Elders or Pastors or Teachers to do this according to the Bible or enough women to serve as Deaconess's...then pray for them to come and wait upon the Lord.
We in the Church need to stop making excuses for sin and stop permitting those who live in sin to be in influential positions in the Church. Paul refers to these people as those who practice sin. They see no problem with living with the sins they enjoy and really want accepted as they are. As Paul said shall we continue in sin that Grace might increase? May it never be! For how can one who died to sin continue in it?
Divisions will happen. Until the Bride is made ready for her Husband, whom is Christ. There are many references by Jesus of removing stains and sins from Spiritual garments. Look at what He says of His Bride, the Church. It's pure and spotless.
Look at those who are weeping and gnashing their teeth at God. Many will be doing both because they were allowed by men to stay in their sin and been made to believe they were saved when they were not.
Make sure of yourself today. Are you truly a part of the Bride? The Church? Or are you content to live with the things you know are sin in your life, honestly demanding God change to accommodate your desires? Remember that the Bible calls that mockery.
It says that God will not be mocked, what a man sows he will reap. Some to eternal life and the rest to condemnation.
Scripture says exactly who will never see Heaven.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."
Paul says this about those IN THE CHURCH.
Make sure of your standing before Jesus today my friend. Oh dear reader the cries to Heaven on the day of the Rapture will be great! Those who THOUGHT they were saved who find themselves still here will be crying out to God to take them too!
They believed the lies of deceitful men and will miss the Rapture. Paul warned of wolves in sheep's clothing. People secretly infiltrated the Church to deceive.
Make SURE, oh dear reader make sure!
If you are not more concerned about your walk with God than your life's circumstances then you have a problem.
Your relationship with Jesus should be your everything. Everything you do should be towards a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ your Savior.
Don't hang onto a so-called Church because of friendships there. Watered down teaching isn't teaching either.
Your relationship with Jesus should be paramount.
Know today, be sure, today. You may never get a tomorrow.
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