Where Is The Difference?
There is supposed to be a distinct difference between the world and the people of God. Remember Goshen? Goshen was the land Pharoah gave to the children of Israel as living quarters when Jacob fled to escape from the famine in Israel. God blessed and prospered His people in Goshen while the Egyptians were experiencing drought and famine in their land. Even their cattle were affected. While the Egyptians were experiencing lack and utter devastation from the famine, Israel's people, cattle and land were fat and heathy. Do you know why? Because there is a difference between God's people and the world.
In Genesis 46-47, Israel was given the best of the land because God wanted to demonstrate His love and favor upon His people and show that there is a distinct difference between those who belong to Him and those who don't. God's people are set apart for God's glory. It's still the same way today, but many in the body of Christ have ceased to look, behave, and live differently from the world. It's even crept into the church. Many Christians and churches have been busy trying to conform to the image of this world, instead of being transformed by the Word of God, and live holy lives as God has called us to live.
One of the saddest indictments, ever found in the Bible is the one God had against the priests, princes, and prophets of Jeremiah's and Ezekiel's day. In Ezekiel 22:26 , the Lord stated regarding Israel "Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them." God further said, "They are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed shed blood and destroy souls, to get dishonest gain." (verse 27)
Of the prophets, He spoke, "There is a conspiracy of her prophets...ravening the prey, they have devoured souls; they have taken the tresure and precious things. (verse 25). "Seeing vanity and divining lies unto them, saying 'Thus saith the Lord' when the Lord have not spoken." (verse 28) These are the words God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel before He judged Israel, but Jesus also stated very specifically, "Come out from them and be ye separate. Touch not the unclean thing." (2 Corinthians 6:17) Christians must remember that we are in this world, but not of this world and we are to livelives that reflect his. There must be a distinct difference between Believers and unbelievers. Let the light of Jesus Christ shine brightly through you today.
