For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me,” says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
2012 is off and running, but in what direction? We began a new series dealing with change because I believe that is one thing that is heavy on people’s minds as a new year begins. We desire to be different in our attitudes and actions hoping that as a result life will be better. As we talked about this weekend at Hill View, without a partnership with God there can be no lasting change. Without the power of God at work in our lives we are doomed to lapse back into the same old behaviors, attitude and patterns.
Our text describes God’s plan for transformation with this phrase, be separate or set apart as holy. The word separate actually means “to mark off a boundary.” When God calls us to separate ourselves He is saying that as His temple we are to live lives of holiness. Separation is holiness in action. It’s setting some Biblical boundaries in my life and saying, “I’m not going there and it won’t be tolerated in my life. I belong to God and as a tool in His hand and by His power I’m not going back.”
Before you make a choice you can’t reverse and reap a whirlwind of consequences, heed the Word of the Lord, “Come out from that and be separate.” It really couldn’t be any clearer, God’s Word says to separate from the world’s lifestyle. Don’t touch what is unclean; don’t sit on the fence, don’t straddle the line, don’t be double minded. God’s says: “Be holy as I am holy.” There’s joy and blessing waiting for you in 2012 when you live in the protective boundaries of God’s holy call on your life.
Now is the perfect time for you to ask yourself, “Have I set some boundaries in my life? Am I building into my life convictions based on God’s Word?” Without those boundaries and convictions you are doomed to make 2012 a carbon copy of 2011. You might do alright for a time, but without a partnership with God, without His power you’ll drift right back into that old pattern of defeat. If you’re ready for transformation start by praying, “Father, I resolve once and for all that with the Spirit’s help and power, I’m going to do things your way because I belong to you.”
