There is Supposed to be a Difference
“But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against a man or a beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.” (Exodus 11:7)
Egypt was a pagan nation. They worshiped pagan gods, made sacrifices to pagan gods, and revolved their life around pagan gods. And although the people of Egypt knew without a doubt how powerful Yahweh, Israel’s God, was, they refused to acknowledge Him as the one, true God.
Israel, on the other hand, was God’s people. God had specifically chosen them and was about to make a covenant with them which would last for generations. The people of Israel worshiped God, made sacrifices to God, and revolved their lives around what God said. They knew God was and is the one, true, and Everlasting God.
So with such a contrast between these two people, we should not be stricken with wonder at the accurate words of God: “the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.” We can see it was a very large difference indeed!
This is a wonderful example of the contrast which is to exist between Christians and the rest of the world. As Christians, we are supposed to be different (in a good way). While all the world goes many different ways we are to stay firmly in God’s path. Have you ever noticed how quickly the trends of the days change? That is how quickly this world changes its mind about just what can make anyone happy.
Up and down, the cycle never ends! With God, however, stands the firm foundation, and He will never move. There is a reason why God has called us to be holy. Holy means to be set apart. God is holy because there is none like Him and never will be; He is worthy of absolute devotion. We are commanded to strive toward holiness because we have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Do you remember what Jesus’ blood did for us?
In the sense of His righteousness, Jesus’ blood makes us like Him, like God. God is perfect, spotless, and pure, while we are sinful, dirty, and defiled by our evil deeds. Before Jesus died we had no hope of heaven because God cannot and will not dwell with sin and darkness (unrighteousness). We were unrighteous and fit for hell! Only the righteous could get to heaven.
But, we had a HUGE problem: NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON WHO EVER WALKED THE EARTH EXCEPT GOD WAS RIGHTEOUS.
The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one;”(Romans 3:10)
Clearly, no hope of heaven was in sight.
However:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
Jesus’ blood saves us from eternal punishment for our sin, purifies us, and guess what? We are seen as righteous in God’s eyes!
Jesus’ blood also allows us to become children of God; thus we become joint heirs in His inheritance.
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1a)
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17)
“For He made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:)
Blood-bought saints who have been saved by Jesus and are going to live with Him forever ought to act different!
The Bible teaches us there are two types of people in this world;
1. The children of God, who, are those who are saved and will live with God for eternity, and
2. The children of the devil, who, are those who are not saved and are racing towards hell, where they will reside for eternity.
“In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10)
Remember the “new” man and the “old” man? Those who have been saved are literally being transformed daily into new people.
“Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Those who have not been saved are still unregenerate, desperately lost sinners, trapped in the old man.
These are two very different types of people. And they are supposed to be different. They were never meant to merge.
The sad fact is that these two groups of people do merge.
Unfortunately, all around us lies a sea of merging Christians.
Without being condescending, I thing it is highly necessary that we recognize the extent of worldliness displaying itself today in professing Christians. Dear Christian, please understand something: you can still love a sinner with God’s love without conforming to their ways. Continue being transformed by Christ rather than being conformed to this world. This means to cut off the world without cutting off the world if that makes sense (you know, love the sinner; hate the sin).
We all have numerous areas to grow in, and by God’s grace, He will faithfully show us in time those places where growth is necessary. However, worldliness is sin. We are clearly commanded not to become attached to this world! This is also one of the ways the world can see that we are “set apart”; they see we belong to the Father.
“Do not love the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)
See, its a heart issue. Christians must understand the weight which comes with following Jesus. A Christian’s sole purpose is to strive to reflect Jesus. The Bible tells us those who love Jesus will keep His commandments; they won’t just claim to be righteous, or in our terms today, “Christian”. Jesus confronted the Pharisees with this same sin in their day.
“...This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Mark 7:6b)
“In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
The point is to add that walk along with our talk.
Remember: there is supposed to be a difference between Christians and the world. That is how we show we belong to the Father, and how others are drawn ultimately to Him. YOU are the temple of God, redeemed and blood-bought, and the reflection of Jesus Christ. Go and act like it.
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord does Christ have with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God and they shall be my people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17a)