08/29/2029 – “All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.” Numbers 6:4 / Thoughts? Reflections?
“Nazarites had taken, among other vows, one which debarred them from the use of wine. In order that they might not violate the obligation, they were forbidden to drink the vinegar of wine or strong liquors, and to make the rule still more clear, they were not to touch the unfermented juice of grapes, nor even to eat the fruit either fresh or dried. In order, altogether, to secure the integrity of the vow, they were not even allowed anything that had to do with the vine; they were, in fact, to avoid the appearance of evil. Surely this is a lesson to the Lord’s separated ones, teaching them to come away from sin in every form, to avoid not merely its grosser shapes, but even its spirit and similitude. Strict walking is much despised in these days, but rest assured, dear reader, it is both the safest and the happiest. He who yields a point or two to the world is in fearful peril; he who eats the grapes of Sodom will soon drink the wine of Gomorrah. A little crevice in the sea-bank in Holland lets in the sea, and the gap speedily swells till a province is drowned. Worldly conformity, in any degree, is a snare to the soul, and makes it more and more liable to presumptuous sins. Moreover, as the Nazarite who drank grape juice could not be quite sure whether it might not have endured a degree of fermentation, and consequently could not be clear in heart that his vow was intact, so the yielding, temporizing Christian cannot wear a conscience void of offence, but must feel that the inward monitor is in doubt of him. Things doubtful we need not doubt about; they are wrong to us. Things tempting we must not dally with, but flee from them with speed. Better be sneered at as a Puritan than be despised as a hypocrite. Careful walking may involve much self-denial, but it has pleasures of its own which are more than a sufficient recompense.
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Soli Deo Gloria!
Comments:
“To be separate” is a critical phrase for it connects with the sanctification process, “to be holy”, a command from our LORD in His Holy Word. It is not about “works”, it is about putting our all into a relationship with or Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What a joy!: We are called to be Christ imitators, for Jesus, the Son, gave His all in this world to the Father. (*A)
We witness the Good News as mere messengers to lost souls. But we do not “dance” with the Devil! As Jesus noted, we can’t love Him and love the world at the same time.
(*A) – Check out John 17: We can pray over Jesus’ prayer, His prayer for all believers. Here is the Apologetics Study Bible commentary for 17: 21-23, verses under the section “Jesus prays for all believers”, verses 20 through 26:
“17: 21-23 Obviously, believers cannot be one with either the Father or the Son in every way the persons of the Godhead are one with each other, for we are not God. On the other hand, the unity among Christians is more than the invisible oneness of all believers; it is something that demonstrates itself in outward, tangible, loving cooperation for powerful evangelistic purposes and results.”
Early on in his book: “Jesus the King” , author Timothy Keller uses biblical allegory in describing the incomprehensible eternal joy gift of heaven. He makes reference that as believers, we have a ticket to join the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit in their eternal “dance”, no beginning, no end. Indeed, we will be transformed into one body in Christ! But that transformation process starts now! At least I think of it that way even though it is a continual process in this world.
Thoughts? / Reflections?