Sin - The Great Separator

By: Keith McNeely

            We enjoy being with those we love, however, from time to time our choices and actions cause us to become separated from them, in short, sin is the great separator.

            Sin separated Adam and Eve from God. It seems that they were in the regular practice of walking and talking with God (Genesis 3:8), and after they had sinned, they hid from Him (Genesis 3:10).  Finally, as a direct result of their sin “the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden” (Genesis 3:23-24); thus, we can better understand what Isaiah means when he says, “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2).

            Sin separated the descendants of the three sons of Noah (Shem, Ham & Japheth).  The Bible gives but few details regarding the sin of Ham while his father Noah was drunk with wine, but Ham’s son, Canaan, received a curse, that of being a “servant of servants” (Genesis 9:25).  By contrast Shem and Japheth received a blessing from their father. The point, these two blessed brothers were separated from the descendants of their sinful brother Ham. One need only fast-forward in time, and on numerous occasions see how the inhabitants of Canaan (the descendants of Ham) and the Israelites were regularly at odds throughout history- sin is the great separator.

            Sin will separate you from your real self. Jesus told of a young son that had gone away from his home and began to waste “his substance with riotous living” (Luke 15:13). He finally “came to himself” (Luke 15:17). Such a phrase seems to indicate the young man was taking stock, or inventory, and realized the error of his way. Thankfully he was willing to come back home, back to his former training, teaching, and love that had been shown him there. Further, he was willing to come to himself, endeavoring to make a clean start. Paul presents a set of passages (Romans 7:14-21) that suggests the idea that we (those that are considered faithful Christians) have a will to do right, and that sin (Romans 7:20) has the opposite effect on us. Realize that the Bible plainly teaches the fact that we have freedom of choice, however, it also clearly teaches the negative, devastating effects of sin.  Sin is the great separator.

The Home As God Would Have It

By: Garland Elkins

             Many homes of our day are in deep trouble. One man said, “My home is the place where we fight our private battles.” A woman said, “My home is where I work the hardest and am appreciated the least.” A young man said, “My home is simply a place where I come to eat my meals and change my clothes in order that I may be on my way again.” A young lady said, “My home is where I stay from midnight until daylight.”

            When a person takes it upon himself to be a Christian, this involves being a Christian, not just in certain places and times, but it includes all times and places, yes, even in the home. When a Christian makes suggestions of everyday actions to others, to teach others how to make choices that will lead to worthwhile lives, to guide others into activities that will make the world happier and better and ultimately assure one of a home in heaven, he must teach and practice the word of God. We as Christians in the home should be able by word and deed to say with Paul: “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ:” (1 Cor. 11:1). “The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:9).

            The following ingredients are indispensable in building an ideal home:

1.       The husband must love, nourish and cherish the wife. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:25) “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” (Eph 5:28-31) “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself” (Eph 5:33)

2.       The wife must love, honor and obey the husband. “Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord” (Eph. 5:22) “But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything” (Eph. 5:24). “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also in the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body” (Eph. 5:23). “…and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” (Eph 5:33) “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:4-5)

3.       The children must respect and obey both God and parents. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Eph 6:1-3)

4.       The parents must love, discipline and instruct their children. “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6:4) God has under both the Old and New Covenants instructed parents and entrusted them with the training of their children. “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” (Prov 19:18). “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Prov 13:24) “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Prov 22:15) “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Prov 29:15)

            The Lord has always placed great responsibility upon the father in the training of the children. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” (Deut 6:6-9) “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:  Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:  That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.” (Psalms 78:1-8)

            The above instruction from the Bible to husbands, wives, (parents) and children, if fully and correctly applied, would assure the Ideal Home – the home as God would have it! No guesswork here. There can be no mistake in this advice. Let us all study our Bibles and apply the truth.