Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you ~ II Corinthians 6:17

Last night and today I fought with my personal Babylon again.  I find it interesting that there are times where we go into a testing mode.  When everything was falling apart, I buried myself in Christ and found Him to be more perfect, wonderful, loving, and forgiving than I had ever imagined.

Lately, however, I feel like He’s calling me to interact a little more with the world.  For over 2 months, I went to work then came home and prayed, or listened to preaching, or prayed some more.  I fasted so much I lost 15 lbs after YEARS of not being able to do that! God was transforming who I was and what I did… and I am still a new creature but I feel like He wants me to be a light as well.  It is a fine line though- how to be a city on a hill and yet not hide my light under a bushel? How do I be IN the world but not OF the world?

Tonight my pastor taught and reiterated the importance of being separate and it really struck a cord in me.  A big part of my Babylon is because I secretly want to fit in, to be like others.  When my ex and I were dating, we’d say we weren’t doing anything wrong b/c we knew of other couples who had done similar things and they were fine (ministers in the church etc.).  However, when God says “this is your personal Babylon” you MUST obey!!! I wish that I had just listened to Him from the beginning.  Again, no we didn’t do THAT and yet I always wanted my future husband to know that he was my first everything- even my first kiss.

When God calls us to be separate- sometimes above and beyond what He’s requiring of others- there’s a reason for it.  So many people told me I was crazy for wanting to hold on to my first kiss and yet now, I regret ever giving it away.  I regret that whomever I marry, he’ll get some firsts… but not all of them as I had always wanted.  We need to be separate but it’s for a reason- our protection.  My heart breaks at the thought that I’ll have to confess a bit to my future Isaac that I’m not always as loving and sweet as people think.  I’m secretly evil. The phoenix (as explained in a previous post) was briefly unleashed and luckily God saved me from myself but the damage done will be remembered for a lifetime.  Although God fixed me, He didn’t take the memories away.  I hope I am never again that girl who was crying at the drop of a hat, easily upset, and allowing herself to be yelled on a fairly consistent basis typically over ridiculous things (going to the gym, eating food at McDonalds, not being awake enough on the phone late at night…).  However, next time, when God says build a wall- I’m going to do it and not tear it down!!!

God calls us to leave our Babylons behind us… so that we can move forward towards Him.  If you aren’t separating yourself from the things of this world, you’ll only be enticed to return back to your Babylon.  We need to learn how to separate ourselves and turn ourselves into a city on a hill- ones with walls of holiness and a heart to seek God on all things.  That our light may shine bright in this cold, dark world and those who are seeking refuge might easily find where the answer to their problems lie- in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior and the One and only True God.

Dear Reader, 

I pray that you and I both not only leave our Babylons behind, but move forward into becoming a city on a hill for Jesus.  May you pray and listen to Him to find out what bricks to use, how high your walls should be and where your weaknesses are so that He might fortify you.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

God bless you, 
Rebekah M.