1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. (NIV)
If your life was a book, how close to the Bible would it be? I ask this question because many times we as Christians are the only Bible that some people read. If that is the case with your family, friends, acquaintances and strangers would they get the same principles that are found in God’s Holy Word from your life?
One of the biggest problems that Christianity faces in the present world is not the faith itself, it is definitely not the Word of God or God Himself it is those who lay claim to the name Christian but do not live a life that is a true representation of Christianity. We are called to live a holy life as this scripture so eloquently puts it. This is a simple fact and requirement of Christianity, God did not send His Son to die for our sins so that we might continue to live in impurity but in holiness. Many people outside of the church are as frustrated as some of us that are in the church because of the inconsistent display of the principles of God in the life of the confessed believer. There ought to be a difference between the believer in Christ and the unbeliever. What many are seeing these days is the attempt at blending the two so that everyone can be appeased and have what they think are the best of both worlds. This attitude and behavior lends itself to the belief that I can secure me a place in Heaven but live like I am going to Hell. My friends this is not true and must be stopped and that starts with each of us being accountable to God for the new life that He has given us in Christ Jesus. As this scripture says God did not call us to be impure and this means that the purpose for our life and the mandate from God is not to live a life of impurity but one of holiness.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 says: 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (NIV)
What these scriptures are telling us is that there is and ought to be a distinct difference in the Christian and non-Christians. No matter where we are or what situation we find ourselves in it should not change our devotion to God and the commitment to live a holy life. People should not be able to truthfully assess our lives as one that is just like the world or one who is not seeking God’s holiness. It is disheartening that the church in many places and in many cases has become like the world it is about how can God serve me rather than how can I serve God, what’s in it for me rather than what’s in it for the Kingdom of God, or how can I serve God and the world too. God is not pleased with this approach; the “worldliness” of the Christian community ought to not be so we are to lead people toward God not the world leading us away from God. If there is no difference between believer and the unbeliever then the believer will never be able to make a difference in the life of the unbeliever. God and the world are yearning to see real Christians live out their faith so we should do just that and make an impact on the world to turn it from impurity to the holiness that God desires. You cannot have it both ways and serve two masters we all choose one by how we live our life. Who does your life say that you have chosen?
I challenge every person that reads this to evaluate their life according to the Word of God and begin to live out your Christian faith in holiness as if God is watching and others are reading the Bible through you, your behavior and your lifestyle.
One of the biggest problems that Christianity faces in the present world is not the faith itself, it is definitely not the Word of God or God Himself it is those who lay claim to the name Christian but do not live a life that is a true representation of Christianity. We are called to live a holy life as this scripture so eloquently puts it. This is a simple fact and requirement of Christianity, God did not send His Son to die for our sins so that we might continue to live in impurity but in holiness. Many people outside of the church are as frustrated as some of us that are in the church because of the inconsistent display of the principles of God in the life of the confessed believer. There ought to be a difference between the believer in Christ and the unbeliever. What many are seeing these days is the attempt at blending the two so that everyone can be appeased and have what they think are the best of both worlds. This attitude and behavior lends itself to the belief that I can secure me a place in Heaven but live like I am going to Hell. My friends this is not true and must be stopped and that starts with each of us being accountable to God for the new life that He has given us in Christ Jesus. As this scripture says God did not call us to be impure and this means that the purpose for our life and the mandate from God is not to live a life of impurity but one of holiness.