Light and Darkness Can’t Share the Same Space
Our world today tells us to blend in. Don’t stand out. Don’t make people uncomfortable with your convictions. God’s Word cuts to the heart of the matter, making it black and white, not gray. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Now we know this does not mean to be rude or cut ourselves off from our society. Jesus ate with sinners and had compassion for the lost. But He never joined in their sin, nor did He allow the culture around Him to reshape His identity.
As children of light we are called to live differently. “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them,” (Ephesians 5:11).
Light and darkness cannot occupy the same place. The moment light shines, darkness scatters and flees. This is how our lives should reflect in a world enslaved to sin. When we compromise with unbelief, when we tie ourselves in close partnerships that pull us away from Christ, we dim the light we were designed to shine.
God’s appeal is direct and clear. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
This is not isolation. This is holiness. This is a refusal to mix God’s temple, you and me, made new and indwelt by His Holy Spirit, with the idols and lies of this world.
Today’s idols are not carved in stone, but they are all around us: money, pleasure, success, acceptance. We make a deal with the world’s system when we compromise with it, and we trade the good, sure promises of God for lies that can never satisfy us. But God gives a greater promise to those who separate themselves unto Him, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18).
The call is simple and urgent. You cannot go two directions at once. Decide for light. Decide for Christ. Shine so bright that compromise with darkness can no longer live.
Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7
Psalm 47:1-9
Proverbs 22:16
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New Testament: 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7
Summary:
The Temple of the Living God
Paul’s Joy
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? 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 6:14-18
The ox is a strong farm animal, like a small cow, which farmers used to pull the plough. Usually, two of these animals would work together; a wooden bar called the yoke would join them together.
It would be very difficult to plough if a farmer joined an ox to an animal of a different kind (for example a donkey). The farmer would have not obeyed God’s law in Deuteronomy 22:10. His animals would work at a different speed and they would behave in a different manner.
That law is one of a series of laws in Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:9-11. Those laws are against the mixture of different kinds of things. Their purpose is to remind God’s people that they are different from other people.
Light is the opposite of darkness, even as right behaviour is the opposite of evil behaviour. In the Bible, light is a frequent word-picture for a right relationship with God*. There is a good reason why God separates light from darkness, or right behaviour from evil behaviour: These things are so different that they cannot even exist together.
God’s people live with other people in this world, and there has to be contact between them. However, God’s people must always remember that God has made them different from other people*. Often, their attitudes, behaviour, desires, words and even thoughts have to be completely different. It is not wise to establish a marriage, a friendship or a business relationship that may constantly tempt you to behave wrongly.
Sometimes a person becomes a Christian and such a relationship already exists in his life. Paul taught that, if possible, a husband and wife should not separate for this reason. The situation is not ideal; but God can still work even in such a situation*.
More on todays Bible reading:
- 6:15 – How God’s people are different
- 6:16 – God lives in his people
- 6.17 – How God’s people should separate themselves
From: usefulbible.com
Overview: 2 Corinthians – Click Here
2 Corinthians 06 – 07 – Click Here
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