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==The Heavenly Jerusalem, #53==
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Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (II Corinthians 7:1) <br><br>
If we do not allow Christ to drive from us the fear, the unbelief, the abominations, the murder, the immorality, the sorcery, the idolatry, the lying, we will have our part in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. God will allow none of these behaviors to remain in His Presence. If we hold onto them we exclude ourselves from the Presence of God. <br><br>
People attempt to bring such behaviors into the Presence of God. They bring their unbelief and idolatry to the church assembling because of their unwillingness to surrender to the Holy Spirit these areas of their personalities. This is why the Presence of God often is minimal among the believers. Light can have no fellowship with darkness. <br><br>
In the ages to come, people who practice sin and disobedience to God, whether or not they choose to term themselves "Christian," will not be allowed to gather together with the saints in the Presence of God. <br><br>
Today, sin and righteousness are mixed together. But the Light of Christ has come to the world and God shall separate the Light from the darkness. <br><br>
In the Kingdom of God, all things are moving toward definition. What is holy is being emphasized as holy. What is filthy is being emphasized as filthy. It is the Light of Christ that brings definition and emphasis. <br><br>
The adversary hates the Light. Sinners hate the Light. Every person who practices a lie avoids the Light, attempting to keep all matters in a gray area of confusion. <br><br>
Gray is a mixture of black and white. God does not like mixtures. He is bringing everything to definition, grouping like with like, kind with kind, saint with saint, sinner with sinner. When things are separated into their kinds they can be named for what they are. Then they can be judged as good or evil. That which is lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, neither good nor evil, will not be accepted by the Lord. <br><br>
Christ loves the Light of God and comes to it readily. He is the Light! <br><br>
The true saint loves the light and embraces it. <br><br>
Satan and sinners avoid the light. Sin always creates confusion and every evil work. God is not the author of confusion. <br><br>
Today, saints, hypocrites, and outright sinners assemble in the same church building and "worship" God. <br><br>
Tomorrow, the saints will be part of the glorious holy city, the new Jerusalem. The Light of Christ will be seen in them. Those who turn many people to righteousness will shine as the stars forever. <br><br>
All hypocrites and sinners will have their part in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. Thus, all parts of the creation will come to definition and clarity so God's creatures will understand His will perfectly. <br><br>
... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and sulfur: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8) <br><br>
The use of a lake as the eternal residence of sinners seems strange. Yet there is something appropriate about it. Evidently, the lake of fire and sulfur is a clear lake because the righteous can look at the bodies of those who have rebelled against their Creator. <br><br>

''To be continued.'' [[The Heavenly Jerusalem 54]] 

[[Category:The Heavenly Jerusalem]]