CALLED TO SEPARATION

                                                                                                                                                                    By W. G. Guy

          The word separation in the Hebrew Old Testament text is nazar, which means to be separate from the rest.  It is also the root from which comes nazarene  or nazarite.  To be separated means to be sanctified and holy: which includes being consecrated, dedicated, sacred or specially appointed.

          The nation of Israel was formed by God to be a separated people unto God as HIs special people who were to represent Him and His ways upon the earth.  They were to be separate from all the other peoples, nations and cultures through whom God could reveal Himself.  A people blessed by God, and were to be a light in this world of spiritual darkness as a separated people unto Him.

1 Kings 8:53 – For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.

          However, Israel failed miserably and adopted the corruption of the pagan societies that they failed to remove as commanded, and eventually merged with.  This is recorded in the Book of Judges Chapter 1 and 2 in detail as they violated God’s commands to continue to live a blessed life.  Thus they suffered the consequences of their disobedience that God warned them about multiple times as recorded in the Books of Deuteronomy through Joshua.

          In Joshua 1 we read that each of the tribes (or families) of Israel failed to drive out the pagan inhabitants of the area they were to inhabit.  A final warning came as an angel of the Lord declared:

Judges 2:2-3 – And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?  Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

          Israel, being stubborn and stiff necked, did not obey.

Judges 2:11-13 – And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:  and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.  And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 

          Even after God raised up judges to lead them back into the proper way they still returned to their corruption.

Judges 2:16-19 – Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.  And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so.  And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.  And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

          Israel remained defiant.

Judges 3:5-6 –  And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 6 and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods

          Consider that the church of the New Testament is a parallel to ancient Israel, and appears to have walked a similar path; even though we are under a new and better covenant.  However, much of what we call church today has gone in the way of ancient Israel.  It has compromised and adopted too much of the world, and has conformed to its carnal ways.  The early church was said to have turned the world upside down; but today, it appears that the world has turned much of the church upside down.  Only a remnant of the church remains separated, set apart, holy and sanctified to God through Jesus Christ.

          The apostle Paul perfectly described the condition of much the church in these last days.
1Timothy 4:1-2 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 

          Paul continues:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

          Note: where do you find “a form of godliness”, certainly not in the world, but in various churches.  The church that Jesus is returning for will be holy and separated from this world and its governing systems.  The true church will likely be opposed severely by the world system which will be given over to the control of the antichrist and the beast system.  

            Many people believe that they will not be subject to such troubles and tribulation, but they fail to understand what is written by the apostle Paul.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-4 – Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

          This passage plainly tells is that the “son of perdition” will be revealed before the coming of Christ and our gathering unto Him.  Thus we may be subject to his influence in this world.  That is why Jesus revealed to the apostle John events that the saints will experience at this period in time.

Revelation 12:10-12 – And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

          The question believers need to answer is: Who is it that has the testimony of Christ?  It is not the world, nor is it the compromised worldly church.

Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

          The persecution of the true saints will not hurt the church, but will purify it; removing what does not belong, and it will strengthen the resolve of the saints as they endure unto the end when Jesus returns in Glory.  It will be during this trying time that saints will be truly separated, consecrated and dedicated, not compromising and yielding to the world around them.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 –  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.

          Christ’s loving care for the church is described by Paul using the euphemism of a husbands love for his wife.

Ephesians 5:25-27 –  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

            The character and nature of God, and seen in Christ, is to be manifesting in the true saints, and not the corrupted ways of the world with its carnal appetites; like happened to ancient Israel.  Christ’s likeness is to appear in His saints!

Colossians 3:12 –  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

          God has not only provided for us all that He wants us to have, but He also requires of us to be separated, dedicated, consecrated and HOLY!

1 Peter 1:13-16 –  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

          Israel failed to walk in the light of God’s divine providence, and they suffered for it.  Church! Wake up to the truth of who Jesus is and what He provided for us to be – like Him.

1 John 3:1-3 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Colossians 3:27 –  to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

          His glory, His character and nature in us, separates us from the world and its lusts.  This glory was lost in the garden due to sin.

Romans 3:23 –  for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

​          Jesus came to redeem and restore that glory, God’s character and nature, back into man as God had originally designed; this is only done through receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD..