If we say, “I want to be God’s people, I want to welcome His presence in my life, as in the Lord’s Prayer: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” then let it truly happen. But if our lives have no clear direction, God will not stop us either. As believers who have matured, we actually know what we ought to choose: God must be everything. To live holy, to prepare ourselves for heaven, to live only to please God and serve Him. Life in this world is temporary, while true life is in eternity. We already know all this, yet we often remain hesitant, unwilling to make a firm decision.
This half-hearted attitude makes us easy prey for the powers of darkness. Because we fail to use our free will correctly, we live in mediocrity—in a half-and-half condition. Mediocrity is fertile ground for the devil to maneuver, so that we lose focus on God. Our minds are easily distracted, our time is consumed with unnecessary things, and eventually, our spiritual power weakens. The grip of God’s presence thins, divine authority disappears.
Many of the things we do are not “sins” in the usual sense, nor something obviously evil. Yet these things still drain our “spiritual energy” that is needed to soar into the presence of God. That is why God’s Word says: “Come out from among them …” This means not only separating from friendships with those who do not fear God, but also leaving behind lifestyles that do not build us up as God’s excellent children.
To become a good soccer player, one must undergo strict training, even being willing to leave one’s family behind. Likewise, to become members of the family of God’s Kingdom is far more demanding. We cannot live carelessly with the principle of “just go with the flow.” We must map out our life journey so that it becomes the journey of God’s children who are being prepared to dwell in the Father’s House.
God’s Word says: “… and be separate from them, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” The “them” here may refer to certain people, but it can also mean wrong patterns or lifestyles. The church cannot always give detailed guidance, for everyone’s circumstances are different. But the Holy Spirit will help us. Life is indeed complex. Yet we must decide to follow what the Lord commands: “Come out from among them and be separate … do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” Therefore, we must be serious in seeking God until we gain the sensitivity to discern what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
The question is: How serious are we in stepping away from the lifestyle of the children of the world? For what looks like “normal life” can actually be dangerous. It is a threat often unnoticed by God’s people. We cannot live just “normally.” We must have excellence, and that excellence must be built here and now, on earth, until finally we are deemed worthy to be members of the family of the Kingdom of God. Sadly, many pulpits teach as if being God’s children is easy: believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and automatically you are God’s child. Though this is not entirely wrong, but how long will we remain in an unworthy state before Him? If we continue to waste the opportunities God gives us, then in time we will not be recognized as His people.