Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Called To Be Separate
.. Why do some go back? Why is it we have such a problem at times being separate from the world? God calls us out of the world in order to be separate and ever since the fall of man this has always presented the largest problem for those who God touches and calls. God has given us a free will, and we know that with that free will we have to make choices, decisions. Sometimes we have to deliberately go against what the will is wanting in this world in order to will God perfect will and plan..
The Cross And The Right Choices
.. Sometimes there’s that wrestling with the will and that is why there is only the cross that we take up daily to follow the Lord that will deal with that. One of the blessings of the cross is that it will always get you to make the right choice. That is the nature of it. Jesus chose to make the right choice in pleasing His Father, and as a result it led to redemption – to the saving of this world. That principle still works with us in our everyday walk..
Sojourners Passing Through
.. This is why we have to choose the cross every time when a decision has to be made. This then allows the power of the Spirit of God that raised Him from the dead to work also in and through us. In other words it’s called obedience, our separation from the world challenges at times. God is getting the spirit of this world out of us, we are shown that we are just sojourners passing through. We must not make our roots in this world. We are if you like spiritually always travelling with a suitcase.. .. ..
Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Genisis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 4:6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (NIV)
2 Corinthians 4:4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Romans 12:1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
