I will deal briefly with the three things Peter pointed out in 2 Peter 3:11. First of all, with regard to holiness. I’ll just turn to one Scripture which is 2 Corinthians 6, beginning at verse 17 and continuing on into chapter 7:1. You need to bear in mind the chapter divisions were not in the original text, they were put in many centuries later by translators. And sometimes they obscure the sense. So we’re going to start now with 2 Corinthians 6:17. And most of it is a quotation from the Old Testament.
“Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
So God makes a promise to be a Father to all of us who fulfill His conditions. But bear in mind there are conditions stated. And the first one is: “Come out from among them...” That’s the unbelievers. Not the other Christians but the unbelievers. “...and be separate.” Be set apart to God. “Do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you.”
There are many different ways we can touch what is unclean but one very common way which is a problem for nearly all of us is by our mental attitudes and the things we entertain in our minds. And also the things we look at. Particularly, I would have to say by my standards a lot of television programs are unclean. And if we deliberately expose ourselves to them we are touching what is unclean.
Now, I got saved in the British Army and I spent another four and a half years in the army. You cannot help being exposed to things that are unclean in the army. I mean, British soldiers are incapable of speaking without blaspheming and swearing, unless they’ve been saved. So, I heard that day after day for four and a half years. But, I did not expose myself to it. I couldn’t avoid it. I never deliberately, by the grace of God exposed myself to something that will defile me.
Being a preacher, I’m particularly careful because I know that if I let anything in my mind, sooner or later it will come out of my mouth when I’m preaching. I guard my mind. Ruth will bear me witness. I do not deliberately take anything into my mind that could corrupt the word of God that God has given me to proclaim.
You don’t have to take the same attitude that I take but you need to ask yourself am I touching the unclean? Am I unnecessarily exposing myself to things that defile my spirit?
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that Your Blood cleanses me continually from all sin, when I continue to walk in the Light, even when I am sometimes surrounded by uncleanness. Please help me to not deliberately expose myself to any form of uncleanness, and to guard my mind and be focused on Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
