By: Elder Vista Jeffries

Many people want to be called the “children of God.”  God is good and wants us to be His children. However, we must come out from among the world and be separate from it if we want to be God’s children. Why should we come out, who told us to come out, and how do you come out from among the world?

Why should we come out from among the world? The scripture declares that the world is passing away along with the lusts that are in it. Many people love the comfort of being accepted by their peers, family members and friends and have not considered that they may have chosen the acceptance of people over the acceptance of God.  It is written, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever (I John 2:15-17). This scripture describes a great reason to come out from among the world, for if we stay a part of the world and love it, we will pass away with the world.

Who told us to come out from among the world? It was the Lord himself.  The scripture says, Come out from among them, and be separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (II Corinth 6:17). Apostle Paul proclaimed this to the people of Corinth, but this was not a new message. The Lord in the Old Testament through Moses told the children of Israel not to be yoked with the other nations, for He was concerned that their hearts would be turned away from following Him (Deut 7:1-4).

How do you come out from among the world? The first thing a person must do in order to come out from among the wrong environment is hear the word of the Lord. It is written, wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his ways? By taking heed thereto according to thy word (Psalm 119:9).  After they heard the word on the day of Pentecost, the people wanted to know what to do to be saved.  Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and strongly urged them to save themselves from an untoward generation (Acts 2:37-40). The Lord has commanded us to come unto him.  If we hear His voice, we can become His sons and daughters (Matt 11:28).

In conclusion, we should come out from among the world because the world is passing away and we want to have eternal life and abide forever. The Lord is the one who has given us commandment to be separate from the world and gave us a promise that we would become His sons and daughters if we would obey this command. The way to obey this command of the Lord is by first hearing the word of God and allowing it to touch and convict your heart. You will begin to turn down the invitations to the night clubs and bars. You will begin to go home to your own wife or husband. Children would become obedient to their parents and choose sanctified friends over worldly friends. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord. May God bless you with the ability to fulfill His will.