pramsay posted on August 31, 2006 02:39 1059 views

How many adjustments would I have to make in my appearance to look more like my friends who are NOT Christians? How far could I go with pornography before I am doing something serious? How much sexual pleasure can I have without upsetting God? Can’t I just block out the swear words, the violence and explicit sex scenes from the movies and enjoy the story? Is a little bit of nudity on a DVD really going to damage me? As long as I don’t get drunk, can’t I have a beer when I’m crashing on the weekend with my friends? Or if I’m at a business function, does God really mind me popping the cork and serving wine to my associates? Is it a crime if I miss a gospel service or a prayer meeting to watch the play-offs or the Super Bowl with my friends? Is it wrong if after I pay my bills, that I spend the rest of my money on all the toys I want and hobbies I enjoy? Why shouldn’t my iPod be pounding into my ears 2Pac downloads, or Nirvana, 50cent, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood or Black Eyed Peas or Shania Twain?

Those are some very real questions – not far-fetched by any stretch of the imagination. Do you know what all of the above have in common? The world, the flesh, the devil – a believer’s three enemies. Everything in the list above has the greasy, grimy, dirty fingerprints of a godless world stamped all over it. “O come on, give me a break! Some Christians are so hung up and strung out worrying about trivia that they miss the big picture. God has bigger things to worry about than whether I do this, wear that, go there, watch this or listen to that or engage in some private activity.” Okay, how can I tell you politely and without offending you? But really, this time – you are dead wrong!

God is in the business of saving precious souls and delivering them from sin and from sinful practices. His big picture plan is to save and separate from this world a people set apart completely for Himself – distinct, separated and poles apart from anything and everything that is loved, enjoyed and favored by this godless age. His intention for a Christian is that each day of their Christian life they will move closer to Him in their lifestyle and further away from the world.

A lot of Christians often ask about the will of God: “How can I know God’s will for my life?” Here’s a principle in God’s Word – act today on the light you already have and what you already know to be God’s will. Here is something we already know about God’s will:
1 Thessalonians 4:3 says this:

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification…”

The Greek word hagiosmos (sanctification) clearly means to be set apart, separate from, distinct and holy. In the context of this verse, it means ‘set apart’ from all kinds of sexual impurity. But there are many other New Testament verses that make it clear God wants us to be separated unto Himself in every dimension of our lives – and as far away from the principles, pleasures and pursuits that characterize this world as we can possibly be.

It’s a daily process. The more I dig into my Bible and spend time alone with my Lord in prayer, the closer I will be drawn to Him. The equation is simple: Closer to Christ – Further from the World. The more I get to know Christ daily, the less appealing the fun, fashions, fortunes and functions of this world will be to me.

Which direction am I moving towards?

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