THE MAN GOD USES – CHAPTER III – Oswald J Smith
THE SEPARATED LIFE
IT is doubtful if there ever was a time when the note of Separation needed to be sounded more than to-day. The world has become so churchy and the Church so worldly that it is hard to distinguish the one from the other. The line of demarcation has been so completely broken down that churches, where revivals once flourished, whose spiritual life was at one time deep and strong, are to-day mere social centres over which God has long ago written the word “Ichabod”—”The glory has departed.” 25
But worldliness in the professing church is only another sign of the end of the age. The prophetic utterances of God’s Word are being literally fulfilled. It cannot be long now before He comes.
People seem to have the idea that we must mingle with the world and become like it in order to win souls and influence lives for God. Yet when a man falls into a deep well no one ever dreams of jumping down alongside of him in order to get him out. Instead he stays away up at the top and from there lets down a ladder or rope and thus lilts him up.
Ah, no! The men who have won souls and influenced other lives for God have been the men who have walked with God far above the masses, and thus from an altitude of spirituality have drawn others up to their level. The only way to win others is to be different ourselves and thus attract by something they lack, and by prevailing with God prevail with men.
Had Abraham gone to live with Lot in Sodom his influence would have availed but little. It was when he separated himself 26 and stood afar off on the highlands of faith with God that his intercessions secured Lot’s deliverance. Let us be separate. We must dwell apart with God.
Then I want to say that the world expects the Christian to be different. It has its own standard of what a saint should be. And even when it succeeds in drawing us down to its level it but mocks and laughs at our plight. No longer does it respect us nor reference our position. We are then no better than others.
A young woman who saw no harm in dancing decided to do some personal work during the dance, and while gliding over the floor with her companion, she suddenly turned and asked him if he was a Christian,
“A Christian! No! Why, are you?” he exclaimed in amazement. “Yes,” replied the young woman. “I’m a Christian.”
“Well, then, for God’s sake, why are you here?” was the unexpected response.
Ah yes, the world expects the Christian to be different. Otherwise how will anyone know which is which? If there is no line of demarcation how will people know which side we are on? If we dress and act like the world how can anyone tell whether we are Christians or not? There must be a difference.
Now, separation has always been God’s standard. Abraham had to leave his country, and his father’s home, and in complete separation, go he knew not whither. Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. 27 So also with the Israelites. They were a peculiar people, entirely separated from the nations around about them, representing God. And in Ezra ix 10 and Neh. xiii, when the line of separation had been broken down by mixed marriages there was no leniency shown. Heathen wives must be put away and separation of the severest character again instituted.
Yes, and separation is still the call of God. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,” and, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (1Cor. 6:14-18). The world must be forsaken and separation maintained.
Let us remember our character. According to God’s Word we are “pilgrims and strangers,” “sojourners,” 28 a heavenly people in a foreign country. This is not our home.
I’m but a pilgrim here, A stranger from afar—
And to my distant home With many a battle scar
My Lord will bear me safe at last When pilgrim days on earth are past.
Enmity and hatred is the attitude of the world toward the true child of God. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (Jn. 51:19). What about it? Does the world hate you? If you are not of it, if you do not belong to it, and if you make it clear that you are a pilgrim and a stranger, then you will very quickly discover that the world hates you. You see it depends on the attitude you take toward it.
Now, the evidence of the separated life lies in the attitude of the heart, not the actions, toward the world. ” Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world; the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:15). Hence, it is not necessary to actually take part in the things of the world. The real question is: Do you want to? Is there a desire? Does the world appeal and allure? If so, then there is no heart separation after all.
Listen again: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4). Pretty plain language! Talk about a “worldly Christian!” God declares that the world’s friend is His enemy. The one who loves the world does not love God. What then is my heart attitude? That is the important question. Do I love the world or do I love God? Am I the world’s friend or God’s friend? Would the word “adulterer” or “adulteress” be applicable to me? What is the real attitude of my heart toward the world? Not my actions but my thoughts, my likes and dislikes.
Suppose a woman were to live with her husband on Sunday, and then spend her time with other men during the rest of the week, and on Sunday return again to her husband, what would we think of her? What would we call her? How long would her husband acquiesce? And yet that is how the so- called “worldly Christian” treats the Lord Jesus Christ. Six days in the world and then one day with Christ. No wonder such an one is called an “adulterer” or an ”adulteress” in Jas. 4:4. What a disgraceful life to live! Companionship with the enemies of God! Such conduct is viewed by God as “unfaithfulness.” The worldly Christian in His sight is likened to an unfaithful wife. Must the child of God be compared to a harlot? Yet such is the description in the inspired Word. Let us ponder very carefully 1Jn. 2:15 and Jas. 4:4. The Old Testament, especially in the prophets 29 , is full of such comparisons. Separation is the only remedy.
Now, the separated life means separation from:
1. Worldly Pleasures.
That was the choice Moses made when he repudiated the pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:24- 26). The dance, the theatre, and the card party are not of God, but of the world. They were introduced not by spiritual leaders and saintly men, but by men of the world. The spirit of the world pervades such pleasures, and prayer and testimony in the midst of these things is out of the question. The two simply don’t go together. The people who throng such gatherings do not attend nor take part in prayer meetings, nor are they interested in the spiritual work of the Church. Hence, the time must come when the true Christian is willing to obey the clear and emphatic command: “Come out from among them, and be ye separate,”30 and to sing from the heart:
Goodbye, Old World, goodbye! I want no more of thee,
For God is dearer far than thou canst ever be; My soul is satisfied
With Christ the Crucified; And all I need I find in Him alone.
2. Worldly Alliances.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” 31 No words could be clearer, no command more emphatic. God cannot honour the unequal yoke,
(1) Business Alliances.
The Christian who enters into partnership with an unbeliever or even with a so-called worldly Christian is running a dangerous risk. Pray as he will he has no promise of blessing in God’s Word. No wonder so many business enterprises fail. To disobey the plain Word of Scripture is to invite disaster. How can God bless what He has condemned?
(2) Lodge Alliances.
Secret societies are the curse of the Church everywhere. The lodge may be good enough for the man of the world, but for God’s child the Church of Jesus Christ should more than suffice.
In the secret societies are to be found Jews and Unitarians 32 , men who deny the deity of Jesus Christ. Even the name of the Lord Jesus is not permitted for fear of giving offence. And I want to say that the place that is not good enough for my Lord is not good enough for me. Nor could I go in when He is kept out.
Oh, how clearly God has spoken! “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” Is a Jew an unbeliever? Are Unitarians unbelievers? Most certainly. Then, thus saith the Lord; “Come out from among them, and be ye separate.” God help us to obey.
But you say, “once a Mason always a Mason.” Oh no! Not a bit of it. That is a man-made law, and it has never been sanctioned by God. No, my brother, you can cut clean, renounce the whole thing, break every satanic vow you ever took before your eyes were open, and step out into the clear light of God’s Word, separated forever from every secret abomination.
(3) Marriage Alliances.
Oh, how many have admitted that the secret of all their unhappiness in married life lay in the fact that they disobeyed God and took on the unequal yoke. God’s Word here also is very, very plain. “She is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:39). “Only in the Lord.” And to marry one who is not in the Lord is to court disappointment. How can God’s blessing rest on the home when His Word has been violated? Many a young woman has had to face this problem and break her engagement; while others who have persisted in disobeying have lived to regret it beyond words to express. Nor does the plea that it is her purpose to marry in order to win, avail in the least. The girl who fails to win her future husband for Christ before marriage has but little hope of winning him after.
Oh, Christian worker, don’t, don’t for your own sake, disobey the Word of God and enter the unequal yoke I It may seem hard now, but be certain of this; God has another and a far better plan for your life. To ignore His Word is dangerous. To obey it is always safe. There need be no question as to the results. Therefore, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”
3. Worldly Companions.
Here again there must be a breaking away. Worldly companions will not enjoy the Christians’ prayer meeting, nor can the child of God take pleasure in their pursuits. Sooner or later the spirit of their association will dull spiritually unless a complete separation takes place. It is difficult to play with fire and not be burned. 33
But you say: How can I give them up? Child of God, you will not have to give them up. You live a spiritual life and they will very soon give you up. They will be as uncomfortable in your presence as you will be when with them.
Make friends of God’s children. And whether they be brown or yellow, black or white, you will find them far more precious and the association closer and more binding than even that of blood relations out of Christ. They will understand when the members of your own family do not. And then, too, such friendships can never be broken. Death does not separate. Make friends, therefore, of those with whom you can associate not only here but throughout Eternity.
Now, the secret of the separated life lies in “the expulsive power of a new affection.” I will never forget the day Grace Armstrong was converted. It was at a Sunday afternoon meeting in Chicago. She just slid down on her knees and sobbed as though her heart would break. No one could console her. Then as she went out her girl friends told her that it would soon pass away, “No, girls,” responded Grace, “this never will pass away.”
And when young men telephoned her and invited her to the theatre, without a moment’s hesitation she answered, “No.” Old things had passed away 34 in a single moment. No longer did she love the pleasures of the world. All things had become new. Christ was now in her heart and she had a new affection. She loved the prayer meeting, loved to stand and sing for her Saviour on the street corner, loved to do personal work, loved above everything else the House of God. There were no battles, no questions to answer, no problems to solve. When Christ came in in His glorious fullness the world went out. There was no room for it. Grace is now with her Lord, but oh, what a wonderful testimony she left before she went home!
When I was a missionary among the Indians near Alaska, I lived for some time on what we called “hardtack.” “Dog biscuit” I suppose would be the name in civilization. Now, it was hard, so hard that only by warming it could I manage to penetrate it with my teeth. Nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed and relished it.
But there came a day when I returned to civilization, and began to eat bread and butter once more. And, what do you think? Why, I have never wanted hardtack since. Not once have I pined for the old days and cried, “Oh, for a bit of hardtack once more!” And why? Simply because I’ve found something better.
Well, you can have the hardtack if you want it; but as for me, I am going to feast on bread and butter. I want the best. And, thank God, when we enter into the spiritual experiences of the New Birth and the Holy Ghost, we are fully satisfied; nor do we crave any more for the things of the world. Thus separation becomes easy. It is not hard to deny yourself something that you do not want. Thus, it is “the expulsive power of a new affection.” Let Jesus Christ in in all His fullness, open your heart to the Holy Spirit, become God-inhabited, and you will be glad to go without the camp with Him bearing His reproach.
” Since mine eyes were fixed on Jesus I’ve lost sight of all beside,
So enchained my spirit’s vision Looking at the Crucified
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25 1 Samuel 4:21
26 Genesis 13:9-‐12
27 Hebrews 11:24-‐25
28 Psalm 119:19, Philippians 3:20
29 Ezekiel 16:32
30 2 Corinthians 6:17
31 2 Corinthians 6:14
32 See Comparison Chart Christianity, Judaism, and Unitarianism, page 18
33 1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 22:24-‐25
34 2 Corinthians 5:17
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Comparison Chart Christianity, Judaism, and Unitarianism
1.Nature of God
Christianity – One God, who exists in three distinct persons (The Trinity): Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Judaism – One God (known in English as ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jehovah’) – “…Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
Unitarianism – Unitarian Universalists do not have any stated doctrinal belief concerning the existence or nature of a god. It is entirely the prerogative of each individual to determine what, if any, concept of deity they wish to accept. Historically, Unitarians rejected the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity as polytheistic. Currently, however, some Unitarian Universalists profess belief in gods and goddesses of various numbers and kinds
2.Jesus
Christianity – The second person of the Trinity and born of the Virgin Mary. “…true God from true God” (Nicene Creed)
Judaism – An ordinary Jew, not the Messiah nor a divine person.
Unitarianism – Unitarian Universalists who believe that Jesus actually lived-and many do not-regard Him to be merely a moral teacher or religious reformer. They generally reject any notion that He was a divinely inspired leader, and especially reject the claim that He was the unique incarnation of God.
3.Sin
Christianity – We inherit a sinful nature through our common ancestor Adam, who rebelled against God. Jesus Christ atoned for our sins through his death on the Cross (Romans 5:12-17).
Judaism – Judaism rejects the doctrine of original sin. Atonement for sins committed is made through seeking forgiveness from God in prayer and repentance. In addition, the day of atonement (Yom Kippur) is set-aside especially for this purpose.
Unitarianism – They reject the biblical doctrine of original sin. They teach that basically all people are good and have no need for spiritual redemption from the effects of sin.
4.Salvation
Christianity – By grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8- 9).
Judaism – Through good works, prayers and the grace of God. There is no parallel to the Christian view of substitutionary atonement.
Unitarianism – Unitarian Universalists see no essential need for the traditional concepts of Christian redemption and salvation. Since men are not sinners, they do not need forgiveness from sin.
5.Hell
Christianity – A place of everlasting punishment for the unrighteous (Matthew 25:46). There is no crossover between Heaven and Hell.
Judaism – Traditionally, there is the concept of Gehinnom or Gehenna – those who die in sin may suffer temporary punishment, but certain sins merit eternal punishment. However, Judaism’s ideas of the afterlife have varied widely among different groups and in different time periods. For the most part, Judaism does not emphasize the afterlife.
Unitarianism – Unitarian Universalists see no essential need for the traditional concepts of Christian redemption and salvation. Since men are not sinners, they do not need forgiveness from sin.
Complied by George Stahnke 2013