Devotionals

Absolute Purity or Unity In The Visible Church?

by Gale Wilcox
04/16/15
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Paul the Apostle uses a large house to describe the body of Christ as a large building with many members, who are not only different in color, culture, shape and size, they are also different in characteristics, personality, and lifestyle, along with having differences of opinions and preferences in what they believe and practice as a rule for living.

In other words, although everyone who are members of Christ church should lead holy lives, according to the principles set forth in God's word, there are some who are not following the way of the Lord, and are encouraging others to do the same - "Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (II Timothy 2:19b).

For this reason, you cannot expect that there will be complete uniformity of all people within the house of God. In fact, there will never be absolute purity or unity in any visible church, or community on this side of heaven.

Therefore, it should not seem strange, or be discouraging to hear of those who are not walking in obedience of God's word, and of those who are practicing wickedness in the church of the living God- "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds, trees whose fruit withered, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots" (Jude 1:12).

Although this all may be true, don't let it be a discouragement to you. There will be wheat and tares, but in the end, Christ will do the separation - "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn (Matthew 13:30).

But, in spite of the issues that may be going on in the house of God, and in the midst of all the chaos brought by those who are allowing themselves to be used as satan's servant, the question that remains, and is opened to be answered by every person in the house of God is, when it is all said and done, and the dust has settled, what type of vessel are you?

Are you as beautiful, and shining even more since the day you entered the house of God, or have you lost your color, your light, and your love for the truth? Are you a vessel separated from all the misconception, deceptions and falsified teachings and doctrines of Christ, or are you a vessel connected with corrupters of the truth, and supporting their ideology?

Who are you, whose side are you on, and what is your purpose?

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"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver (honor), but also of wood and of earth (dishonor), and some to honor, and some to dishonor" - II Timothy 2:20 ****************************************************************************** Copyright © 2002-2015 Gale Wilcox/A New Day Ministries
"Reaching Hearts, Teaching Minds and Transforming Lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for the Glory of God, and for the Edification of His People"