DIVISION
 
 

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light fromthe darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And Godsaid, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, anddivided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. - Genesis 1:4-10
 
 

Just after God created light he began to do something in the next few verses that is rather interesting. In verse four God divided the light from the darkness. In verses six and seven God divided the waters. In verse nine God divided the water from the land. God emphasizes division and separation in these verses. God made a point of saying that he separated darkness from light. He did not abolish darkness when he created light but separated the two so that both would exist. Also, God made a point of first covering the earth with water and then separating the dry land apart from the water. Why did God not just create dry land and then add water here and there. God was showing a separation principle that he uses throughout the Bible. Just as God did not abolish darkness when he created light, he did not destroy sin and man's depravity when he provided a way for men to be saved. Even when a soul is saved, he must live warring against his own flesh (Romans 7:23).

There are many ways that God intends for separation to occur before and after salvation. One example of separation that must occur for someone to get saved is the separating of oneself from the world. This is illustrated in the story of Abraham. Genesis 12:1 reads, '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.' The first thing that Abraham had to do was to separate himself from where he had always been. Abraham's life was about to drastically change for the better, but he had to leave behind the things of the world and follow God. A similar picture is recorded about Abraham sending his servant in search of a bride for his son Isaac in Genesis 24:8. Abraham says, 'And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.' In the New Testament we find the same principle at work. John preached repentance which means 'to turn' or 'to have a change of mind'. Acts 19:3-4 reads, 'And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.' Paul was saying that it was good that they had been baptized by John, but that John's baptism was a sign that they had separated themselves from the rest of the world and were seeking Jesus. Now, however, they needed to believe on Jesus to be saved.

Closely connected to separation from the world is separation from things that are dear to our own flesh. Jesus said in Luke 12:51-53, 'Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.' Again in Matthew 10:34-37, 'Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.' However, given this Jesus reminds Peter that there is great reward for leaving all for Jesus sake. In Matthew 19:27-29 Jesus tells Peter, 'Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?' There is separation from tradition and false religion. John 9:16 reads, 'Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them." Also, Acts 14:4 says, "But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.'

The separation principle does not stop when the soul gets saved. On the contrary, the word sanctification means 'to separate from profane things and dedicate to God' (Vines). I Corinthians 1:2 reads, 'Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:' The church of God is made up of people who are called to be set apart in Christ from the world. In John 17:14-16 notice how Jesus prays for all that are His, 'I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.' Again, the point is emphasized by Jesus in John 18:36 when He said, 'My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.' And in John 15:19 'If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.'

Separation is hard. This is one reason that the way is narrow and strait that leads to life. Sometimes it is good to be reminded that there is great reward for following God. Jesus knew this and answered His discouraged disciple, Peter, in Matthew 19:28, 'Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.' God is calling all of His to follow Him and be separated.

- Brad Hill