Do you ever stop, pause a minute, and see how close or how far away from the Word of God you are compared to when you began your journey with God?  Have you considered just how separated you are from the “things” of this world?  Can people tell there is a difference between you and other people? How aware are you of the things that was called “sin” years ago but today doesn't seem so bad? I have been thinking about this for several weeks now. I have been analyzing my heart to see how much have I renewed my mind in God’s Word versus how much bargaining I have done. Am I searching for an excuse biblically to allow myself to enjoy more of this world?  Am I really sincere about doing what God commands in His Word or am I like the child that constantly ask his parents, “Why can't I do this?” over and over and over until the parents give in?  You know I think sometimes we do the same thing to God because we want so much to blend with everyone around us instead of standing firm on how important separation is to God.

I believe Lot was living in a world that was very similar to the world that we live in today.  The city was filled with sin and the filth of the city was around him everywhere.  He was trying his best to remain faithful to God. However, the things he heard and saw that surrounded him every day weighed heavily on him so much so that that he was extremely upset! 2 Peter 2:7-8 says, And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deed. He lived right in the middle of one of most corrupt cities and stayed righteous before God!  I believe that God rescued Lot and his family because he stood firm on what he believed. He did not allow the influences around him to distort his spirit.

Let's take a look at Samuel.  He was such a little innocent child when he was brought to Eli to serve in the temple.  The Bible says in 1 Samuel 2:17 that the sin of the young men were great before the Lord and detested the offering of the Lord.  It goes on to say that it worsened so that even Eli's sons were laying with the women of the temple.   Samuel was living among the same corruptible trash that any young man lives with today but still lived right before God and was not influenced.  You know it's great when we as parents can teach our children to abstain from what the world does and they listen.  But it's even greater when they get it in their heart and know they are not just obeying their parents but living a holy and separated life according to God's Word.  And Samuel obviously had it deep in his heart because even the bad examples he had to follow in the temple could not sway him from living an upright and holy life before God.

I have to ask myself over and over again questions that contradict God and His Word to make sure that I have nothing in my heart that would keep me from being pure.  Matthew 5:8 says, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. And I want to see God with all my heart. Do you? I would like to challenge you with some questions and see if you can truly measure where you are in your relationship with God:

1. Do you flinch or feel disgusted when you hear someone curse?
2. Do you watch entertainment with cursing in it and it doesn’t bother you?
3. Would you rather watch American Idol than watch a Christian musical DVD or preaching DVD?
4. Does it bother you when someone tells a dirty joke or do you laugh along with everyone else?
5. Does it bother you to watch something on TV that violates the 10 commandments?
6. Does it bother you that your children play games that violate the 10 commandments, the kind that has killing and stealing in it? 
7. Does it bother you to sit with a group of people in a bar or restaurant that is drinking even though you’re not?
8. Does it bother you to be around someone that is inappropriately dressed in a setting such as at the beach or do you join them?
9. Does it bother you when someone tells a lie and you know it?
10. Does it bother you when someone begins to gossip about someone else?  Do you allow them to continue or do you stop them?

Were you able to answer these questions honestly? Just how vexed does your spirit become when these things happen? If some of the questions do not bother you, then you probably need to search your heart and began to spiritually detoxify your soul.  You are probably spiritually desensitized by the things of this world.  You see, we can’t partake of the things of this world and stay pure to God.  We can’t watch trash and not expect trash to come out at some point. What I mean by “come out” could be in my conversation or in my thoughts.   Luke 6:5 says, A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

When we become so full of worldly toxins, we are not affected by “worldly things” as God intended for us to be.  I heard someone say recently, “Trash in, Trash Out”.  How true that is.  For pureness and filth cannot mix without the pureness becoming filth.  You say, sure I can live in this world and hang out with people that do things that I don’t do and it won’t hurt me.  James 3: 10-11 says, Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  At some point your pureness will become tainted with the filth of this world or you will let go of the people and entertainment around you that are vexing your spirit. 

How do we detoxify our heart’s? Here’s a start.  Philippians 4:8 says: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. I believe this scripture alone will judge most of what we do on a daily basis.  We must renew our minds through the God’s Word if we expect to become pure and holy before God.  Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.  I believe a majority of us know what is displeasing to God and that we are not in the perfect will of God when we partake of this world through our conversation and entertainment. My desire more than anything is like David when he cried out in Psalm 51:10, Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me! Be blessed until next time…..