Great Verses For Our Application - Leviticus 10:10
10/27/2010 12:01
Today we are going to be looking at a verse that is very clear from God's perspective but has been muddied and clouded by the devil and his crowd. In Leviticus 10:8-11 we see some of God's requirements for the Jewish priesthood. In verse ten we find today's text. Within this requirement is both the practice and teaching from the priests regarding a very clear principle from God - "And that ye may put difference between the holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean." This verse is key in understanding what God expects from His people. God expects a holy and clean people. While it is true that as sinful human beings we do not possess the ability to be perfectly clean and holy, it is something that we should strive for. As I mentioned earlier Satan and his crowd have muddied the waters in regards to this principle.
Before we get to that bunch, let's take a look at this verse from God's perspective. We know from Scripture that God is holy. We are told from 1 Peter 1:16 - "Be ye holy, for I am holy." Since God is holy, He expects the same from His children. God puts a difference between the holy and the unholy. When it comes to His children, every born again believer in Jesus Christ, God places a difference or a distinction between us and the unsaved. God's great plan for the ages will be revealed towards His redeemed children. Those that are saved will enjoy all of God's eternal blessings, those that are lost will suffer eternal torment and separation from God in hell. There is a difference between the holy and the unholy. When it comes to prayer the Bible teaches us that God hears the prayers of His children but not the prayers of the wicked. As hard as it may seem to billions of religious people around the world, God recognizes a difference between the holy and the unholy in the area of prayer. Just because a person verbalizes a prayer does not mean that God is attending to that prayer. Any prayer that is uttered by an unsaved religious person finds itself going no higher than the ceiling. The one prayer that God will hear is the "sinner's prayer", the prayer that is uttered to God for the salvation of the soul. But God's people can rejoice in the fact that we are encouraged to "come boldly unto the throne of grace" - Hebrews 4:16. In the area of the care of our lives, God once again places a difference between those that are His and those that are not. God is interested in every aspect of His children's lives and wants to work out every situation for our ultimate good. But for those that are unsaved, God has no such responsibility. I am commanded to love all people of which are included millions of children, and while I am to love all children, I only take care of my own. I place a difference between my children and all other children. The Bible teaches us that God does as well. While it is true that God loves all people, He is only obligated to care for His own children, of which is every born again believer in Jesus Christ.
What a wonderful privilege it is to be a part of God's family! As mentioned earlier the devil and his crowd are actively trying to muddy the waters in regards to this clear Bible principle. Satan does this in two ways. He first of all wants to break down the barriers between the holy and the unholy. Satan wants the world to believe that nothing is wrong except a belief that some things are right and others are wrong. Notice some examples - fornication is no longer wrong it has become accepted normal practice. Living together before marriage has now become a test of whether marriage will work. Abortion is no longer murder, it is a choice made by the wrong person. I wonder how many children in the womb would agree with being aborted if they had a chance to speak up. Sodomy is no longer sin, it is an alternate lifestyle. Lying, stealing and cheating are no longer totally frowned upon, they are placed under "sitiuational ethics". Exposing sin and its consequences is no longer an offensive weapon against the fall of our society. It has become the marks of a bigot and mean-spirited. The list could go on and on. Just because Satan and his crowd have muddied the waters between the clean and the unclean does not mean that God has nor that we His children should fall for the deception.
Another devious way that Satan has muddied the waters between the holy and unholy is by slowly bringing that which is profane into the church. The true Church of God must be a place where holiness abounds and where wickedness is locked out. It must be that way because God puts a difference between the holy and the unholy. Sadly though, Satan has been very successful in clouding up this issue. Many churches that used to a bastion of holiness have become a basement of compromise. God honored preaching has been replaced with positive-only feel good sermons. Self-esteem is trumpeted from many a pulpit while sin has become a word that is rarely mentioned. Holy men of God called by God to the pulpit have now been replaced with unsaved "ministers" who not only do not preach the Word of God, but also do not believe it. Wicked lifestyles that used to be preached against are now being accepted by "loving and tolerant" pastors and churches. Wonderful old time hymns and hymnals have now been replaced by so called "Christian rock, rap, grunge, heavy metal" etc. The precious and preserved Word of God found in the King James Bible have been replaced by "new versions" that are nothing more than watered down editions from the beliefs and opinions of unsaved editors. Churches which should be a place where salvation of the soul is implored have become places where social justice and the salvation of mother earth have become the norm. This list also could go on and on. These examples have no place in our churches.
If you find yourself in churches mentioned above, run from them and never look back! These churches have broken down the wall of separation that God has put up. Genuine New Testament churches must remain in places where there is a difference between the holy and unholy, the unclean and the clean. Just because the world has muddied this clear principle doesn't mean that God's children should wallow in these mudpits. Satan wants people to believe that muddy water is just as good as pure water. God makes a distinction. God's children must make the same distinction. When we as Christians are faced with the issues of life, we must test those issues not with the murky water of the world but by the precious Word of God. If God says it is holy then we can say that it is holy. If God says that it is unclean then we must not dirty ourselves with involvement. If a church is operating in a mudpit of compromise, then God's people within that church should pack up and leave that place and then find a church where there is a "difference between holy and unholy and between unclean and clean." God's people must be onguard against this devious attack against the Word of God. Remember this - while mankind marches towards enlightenment and away from the Word of God, we as God's people must insure that we are repairing the breaches and strengthening the walls of godly, Biblical separation. If the world wants to wallow in the muddied waters of compromise and sin, let them. As for us, we will enjoy the pure waters of rightness with God. Even if the whole world should disagree and mock us for our stances, stand firm and never stray from God's clear principle - a "difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean".
Striving for the Saviour,
Pastor George Yurick