Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The Lord has instructed his followers
not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.
And on a practical note, which manifests that exact same principle,
that believers should not enter into any partnerships or marriages
with unbelievers. 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. The Lord has given this instruction
in order to illustrate the fact that He has a chosen people which
are not of this world, even though they are in it for a season.
Yet all the while that they are in this world, their bodies are
the temple of the Holy Ghost, and as such are set apart in
the midst of it by the operation of His Spirit working in them
both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Thus John reminds
his hearers, 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. These are strong and flesh-withering
words which manifest the difference between those who are chosen
of God and those who are not. If ye were of the world, the
world would love his own. But because ye are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hateth you. 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. The religion of the flesh
is the same in all cultures and nations. Man by nature has devised
many means and methods by which he assumes he might approach
unto God. Yet there is only one acceptable fashion in which the
true and living God has revealed that he will be worshipped. But
the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father
seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. While
there is only one fashion in which a man might truly worship
God, there is also only one way in which a man can be made to
approach unto Him, who only hath immortality dwelling in the light
to which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor
can see, to whom be honour and power everlasting. The Lord alone
can give a man that privilege, and he can in no wise devise
a method of his own. Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father,
but by me. No man can come to me, except
the Father which hath sent me draw him. Shechem the son of
Hamor thought that he had the right and ability to join himself
unto the people of God. Dinah appeared beautiful in his
sight, and he took her by his own power, and joined himself
to her. It is not unusual that some religious
men should be outwardly attracted to the gospel. There have been
false believers, apostles, and teachers in every age. Paul said
that we should not marvel at such. Shechem and his whole tribe
were willing to adopt the religious practices of the nation of Israel,
and did even submit themselves to the pain and suffering of
circumcision, just as religious men are often willing to make
great sacrifices, thinking thereby to enhance their standing in
the kingdom of God, or at the very least to gain blessings
thereby. Shechem's whole purpose was self-centered
and self-serving. Though he was enamored with Dinah,
he sought not her glory, nor her benefit, but rather his own.
His longing was totally unlike the desire of Job, who said,
Though he slay me, yet will I trust him, and not akin to the joy
of Peter and James, who were rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for his name. The religious men of this
world glory in their teachers, doctrines, traditions, and numbers,
but the followers of Christ are those who seek only His glory.
As Paul said, But God forbid that I should glory save in the
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified
unto me, and I unto the world. May He ever increase, and all
of our names and exploits be forgotten. We are unworthy of
the least of his mercies. Shechem's destruction was sudden
and without remedy as the elder brothers of Dinah arose to defend
her honor and slay the wicked. So too shall Christ return in
the last day in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that
know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Our elder brother has already demonstrated this resolve
as he has restored the honor of his beloved sister and spouse
by conquering her enemies, bearing her sins, and imputing his perfect
righteousness to her. She stands before the throne
of a holy God as a chaste virgin without spot or blemish. She
has no accusers and is without condemnation. If you would like
a free transcript of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.