FORTUNATE MISFORTUNE
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2Co 6:14-18.
Something is distinctively wrong with people today. Putting it into words is as difficult as talking through their distant looks, aloof attitudes, and self-centered desires blocking substantive conversations with them. I can see it in their eyes as I listen to their carnal inanities. It is more than the difficulties found in light trying to commune with darkness, or the vexing strain of the righteous attempting cordiality with the unrighteous. They have become oblivious to the fact that they are unrighteous, walking in darkness, worshipping idols, and utter infidels. People have become so selfish that they are completely unaware of their actions and mannerisms. It is not just their self-imposed privilege and agreement with the world to sin I find perplexing, or their lack of shame and love of sin they have before others (not to mention God); but the thing I find stunning is their transformation into beasts that deserve condemnation. They are so calloused in sin that they are deaf to anything righteous.
I am reminded of the parable of the dividing of the sheep and goats, and how both proffered the same phrase in response, “Lord, when saw we thee…” The sheep did not know they had seen and ministered to the Lord’s brethren because for them, it was their natural state of being to be selfless. Whereas the goats were so wicked they were confounded they had not seen His brethren, maybe even angry that their needs were not made apparent by demonstration. What do you mean we did not see these Your brethren, they should have said something if they were, “an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison.” Well, if you were not so fixed on yourself you could see, but you are in a hurry to slake your lusts, so they just watched you pass by. It is that look in your eyes, you are only focused on your selfish needs and the true poor and needy are of no profit to your satisfactions.
The only way the righteous can be yoked together with the unrighteous is if they become unrighteous too. It may be possible for a righteous person to remain righteous while companying with the unrighteous, but a prolonged fellowship among them is virtually impossible. Let me offer this prompt, not even the unrighteous can stay yoked together with the unrighteous, the transgressors’ egocentricities will eventually demand separation. I met a young man the other day in his mid-thirties who was separating from his wife and I thought, we have something in common we can talk about. Turns out our situation was quite different but the result of the same thing – lust. My wife had been committing adultery behind my back and eventually left me for another man to feed her lusts. This young man was still living with his spouse knowing she was engaging in an extra marital relationship. Our conversation began over his dilemma of needing to move out because she had reached a point where she wanted him to leave. He did not want to leave, but she had begun legal action to force him out. Turned out, his wife was in an unnatural relationship with another woman. When he revealed the details, I knew instantly that he most likely had a hand in developing her abhorrent behavior. I could see it in his actions and mannerisms. Also, why else would he still be there and reluctant to leave? They had an eight year old son who is going to have to endure their lustful choices now. I believe that the last two generations of people on earth are completely lost.
Unnatural lifestyles are the new normal because the world has made these choices accepted culturally. Sin is sin, and the loss of sin’s shock, to its outright open pursuit, proves you have become wicked beyond redemption, just like Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s a no brainer that you deserve the judgement of God that is going to fall upon you. The blindness you have for your sins aside, the puzzling part is the confusion on your stupid face when you do encounter someone that still has a conscience, and they find your path wicked. You might as well enjoy the frolicking among the goats, because that darkness in your eyes has a destination in mind, even if you cannot see it. Your comfort in this world, and the pleasures of your flesh, will end, one way or the other. When I say one way, I mean you can repent (confess and forsake sin), believe the Gospel, receive the Holy Ghost, and, “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” It works, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Death is the outcome of continuing in sin, your dark eyes did not see it because your focus is on pleasing your flesh.
I recognize the wisdom, grace, and mercy in God granting the sinner carnal longevity. Age of years could provide subsequent enlightenment, as well as bodily deterioration which may bring lustful suppression, seemingly. I see people in their 80s engaging in lewd behavior, to others who are perverting children to satisfy their lusts. One way or the other you will die. You can choose to die to self now, or, death will find that body of your pleasures, and kill it for you. I am not kidding you, everyone dies, you cannot prevent it or stand someone up to testify to the contrary; and, the grave satisfies not the pursuits of sin. Only a few will rise to eternal life. It is not going to be you if you continue to walk after the desires of the flesh. There are two schools of thought in my mind in relation to your choices. One, you do not believe there is a God; therefore, living after the flesh is totally acceptable. I can respect that to a degree, after all, Jesus said, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” Your existence is not of God to begin with; still, your death will bring Him glory as examples of His righteousness and justice.
Those same sentiments apply to my second school of thought with this variation; you are a hypocrite or deceived, and you believe sin is in your nature, and as long as you provide lip service to God, you will be saved in spite of yourself. What did Jesus say in the next verse? “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” It is in your eyes and reflected in your actions, a blindness to truth that is condemning your soul. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood,” and, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” There is no miracle performed by physical death. “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” The sacrifice of Christ will not save you if you die in sin, and do not think you can accept His sacrifice on your terms. I think some believe they can live sinfully and on their death bed repent, but that is not how it works, it is only accepted, “if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” Do not forget Esau:
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Heb 12:16-17.
I want to offer some advice and encouragement. Do not covet the sins of the world, or feel you are missing out on the pleasures of the flesh. Do not let your eyes become dark or your ears hear the lies of the deceived; guard your heart! Endure, and overcome the world, and hear these words, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,” except by the Holy Ghost. Any and all pleasures of the flesh are on a timer for those who serve sin, death is coming, and it respects the desires of none. It can hurt, I know, to watch and experience the pain from the sins of others; but do not relieve that pain by indulging the appetites of your own flesh through sin.
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience…They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Jas 5:10, Heb 11:37-40.
A fortunate misfortune is that the righteous and unrighteous cannot dwell together. Count the trials and abuse you receive from others as a fortunate misfortune, and let it perfect you. It is a fortunate misfortune if your friends, family, and everybody forsakes you, or you must forsake them; even if you are hated, afflicted, and killed for Christ’s name sake. Eat the bitter and call it sweet, this life is pain and suffering, and remember, you, “shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life;” and that is fortunate compared to the misfortune that awaits them. So, choose, “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”
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