Oil and Water

Is it true that oil and water do not mix? Absolutely! Those two components do not work well together and ultimately will not mix. Just as oil and water do not mix, neither does disobedience and godliness. Yes, we are not perfect as humans, but so many choices we have made could have been avoided.

Sometimes we choose to do things we know are out of God's will for us – even those of us who know the Lord. Maybe at the time it seems like only a little sin and not really that bad. After all, we can ask for forgiveness, right?

God calls us to a higher standard of living though. He expects us to daily strive for excellence. Are we going to blow it? Yes, we are, but God still loves and believes in us. It is when we absolutely know what we’re doing is wrong and continue to stay in that behavior that it can bring destruction, in one or another, to us.

In Joshua 6:17-19 we read about Joshua’s direct command to the sons of Israel concerning Jericho. “The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it.  All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

These people were told by Joshua what to do and what not to do, and yet one person disobeyed.

In Joshua 7:10-13 we read about the Lord revealing to Joshua about this person. “The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?  Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.  That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.”

Joshua went and found the man who had done this, and he lost his life for his direct disobedience. Because of this person’s disobedience, the battle they had been involved in did not turn out how it was meant to. This person’s disobedience largely affected others.

We are not going to lose our life because we blow it, but there is a penalty for sin. God sent His son to pay for our sins. He was the perfect sacrifice that we needed. Because of that, we have forgiveness, but our choices not only affect us but others as well. Just because God sent His son for us does not give us a license to willfully disobey Him, and then count on Him to protect us and have no repercussions.

There are things God specifically tells us to avoid for our own protection, and by choosing not to listen we put ourselves at risk for many problems. When we face struggles, we must lean totally on the Lord to help us.

He knows we are imperfect people, but wants the standard raised higher in every area of our lives. If we continually make choices that do not line up with God's word, how can we expect God's protection from the repercussions?

We need to be honest before God and present our struggles to Him knowing He will help us, and that is when we overcome all that was meant to destroy us, through Him.

What About You?

1. What is something you know God is asking you to do or not to do, and you are resistant?

2. Trust that God knows your whole life already and He knows what is good and not good for you. Trust Him in all things and know He will make a way for you.