Command 16 : Do Not Cast Pearls | Day 107

Separate Holy from Unholy!

Why is it so important that holy things be separated from unholy things? Because God is holy and has called believers to be a holy people set apart for Himself. Peter tells us that we are a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and a people who have been called out of darkness into God's marvelous light. God desires that the world would see the zealous good works of His holy people and glorify Him because of them. This is why it is so critical that we abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul and dilute our influence and impact on the world. (See I Peter 2:9-12 and Titus 2:12-14.)

Being effective salt and light in the world requires that we have an inward separation from that which is unholy.

Paul confirms the importance of separation from the world in a passionate appeal to the Corinthian believers: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial [Satan]? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?

“For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, 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" (II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

God's goal is that the Bride of Christ would not have any “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).

In addition to avoiding obvious compromises with the world, it is important that believers evaluate the spiritual training they receive and confirm its accuracy with the holy Word of God. (See Acts 17:10-11.)

I will always be thankful for the time that my father removed our family from a church that had rejected the foundational truths of Scripture. My father was a leader in the church, but when he wrote an article on how to be born again, the pastor rebuked him, stating that this church did not believe those things.

It was after leaving that church and beginning to attend a Bible-believing church that our family became serious about reaching our community with the Gospel. Ministries began in our home, including children's meetings, adult Bible classes, and youth meetings, which eventually resulted in the development of the Institute in Basic Life Principles.

I urge you to seriously evaluate whether the activities and influences that are a part of your life are ones that increase your desire for God and His holiness or whether they are ones that diffuse your interest in spiritual things and diminish your impact on the world.