Two Different Kinds of Separations
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Abraham was summoned from Ur of the Chaldees and invited to follow the Lord. Lot was dragged out of Sodom. There is a difference between these two kinds of separation.
We are somewhat familiar with the "Lot" type of calling, of separation. It is a separation from the "city of destruction," a salvation from the wrath of God.
And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. (Genesis 19:12,13)
The story of Lot is one of the strongest types of salvation from wrath. Before God destroys a "city" He warns us to forsake our sins and uncleanness. We must come out of the city of lust and covetousness. When God goes moves to destroy the city it is too late to repent.
Today God is requiring of all believers that we "come out" of the sins of civilization. We must live a holy life, not touching what is unclean. We must purify ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (II Corinthians 7:1). As soon as God begins exercising His wrath on the sinful cities of our day it will be too late for us to repent. We shall be destroyed with our city.
Every human being is required to believe in Christ, to repent of his sins, and to be baptized in water. This is the Divine means of salvation from God’s wrath.
There is another kind of separation.
It is not a salvation from wrath but a separation to God Himself. It is this second separation that is required of each member of God’s elect, His holy priesthood.
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (Genesis 12:1)
How different this is from the separation of Lot from Sodom! Yet, both callings required obedience on the part of the called.
Lot was not called to the ranks of the elect. His was a separation to survival.
Abraham was not called out of Ur because the wrath of God abode on Ur. The angels of God were not going to destroy Ur. Ur was a center of civilization, but it is not written that "the cry of it" was coming up before God (Genesis 18:21).
Abraham was not called to flee from the wrath of God. He was called to leave his country and his father’s house and go to a land God would show to him. Lot was called to forsake the city of sin. Abraham was called to forsake the familiar and to enter the purposes of God—purposes that will culminate in a redemption so glorious that to this day we are aware only of its outlines.
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:2,3)
Such is the Divine blessing abiding on Abraham and on every member of the Seed of Abraham. He who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than any person who is not part of Christ, of the Divine Seed. The feeble member of the Seed will be as David (Zechariah 12:8).
To be called to be a saint is a full-time calling. Many are called but few show the single-mindedness toward Christ that is necessary if we are to pass into the ranks of the chosen. The chosen are tested repeatedly, as was Abraham, until they have been proven beyond doubt to be faithful to Christ unto death. They love not their lives to the death. These make up the firstfruits of the Church. They are a firstfruits to God and the Lamb and for eternity they will follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
From the refined Seed will flow the fullness of the Glory of God until the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea. The sons of God will minister judgment and deliverance to the creation.
We hear believers speak of the overcoming life as though we have a choice whether to live victoriously in Jesus or whether to drag along in unconfessed sin. It is important for each Christian to understand that none of us is judged in terms of the callings and gifts of any other individual or group of individuals. The callings of God are totally unique, totally individual.
The person who has been called, as was Abraham, to forsake home and kindred and invited to become part of the Divine Seed, will not be judged on the same basis as members of the nations of the saved. He cannot say to himself, "I do not feel like rising to meet the demands God is placing on me. I will be content with just being saved from wrath."
He cannot change the call on his life. Either he obeys God or he disobeys God. Whoever disobeys God is committing willful sin and will be judged severely. He is guilty of stubbornness and disobedience.
To whom much is given, of him will much be required. To whom little is given, of him will little be required.
Lot was not called upon to offer his only son (or daughter) to God as a burnt offering. Lot was not judged on the basis of Abraham’s calling; neither was Abraham judged on the basis of Lot’s calling.
The saints are required to present their bodies a living sacrifice to the Lord. The nations of the saved are required to assist and comfort the Lord’s brothers. God will bless those who bless the Seed of Abraham.
There were many liars and thieves in Israel in the days of the Apostles. But Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead by the Spirit of God because of the unique expectations associated with their lives.
Each individual on the earth is obligated to respond to God’s will for his life. If we are called to be a saint, a king and priest of God, a member of Christ’s Body, we cannot complain because God deals endlessly with us. We cannot look at a "Lot" and complain that he is not going through the same ordeals as we.
The "Lots" will be saved if they are willing to flee from the city of sin, but the "Abrahams" are required to surrender their "Isaacs" to God. They are to do so obediently, faithfully, and in the fear of God.
Each member of the Divine Seed has been called to inherit the fullness of God and to be a blessing to the nations of the earth. Each member of the Divine Seed is required to present his body a living sacrifice to God so God’s will may be accomplished perfectly and completely in his life. Nothing short of total, utter consecration is acceptable when one has been called to be a member of the Wife of the Lamb.
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 that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1,2)