DIVIDED WE STAND
Appears with permission; courtesy Sister Norma Pruitt
When a condition of conflict exists, there has to be a dividing of the ways if unity is to be achieved within either faction of the conflict. This general statement is true when applied to any situation of conflict and it is especially timely and relevant in the religious world as the coming of the Lord approaches. God’s plans for the future of His Kingdom and His Church are not in a state of confusion. They are precisely certain and exact. Nothing will prevent their being fulfilled in the manner and time He has chosen. The confusion of religion will not be a part of the consummation of His work on earth and in the eternal heavenlies.When we contemplate the work of Christ on earth with His Church just prior to His appearance at the rapture, we think of unity and righteousness, but before this glorious state of the Church comes about there will be a process of division necessary to separate the desirable (in God’s eyes) from the undesirable, the truth from error; the right from the wrong; divine revelation from opinion; the chaff from the grain; the tares from the wheat; the usable from the unusable; the righteous from the unrighteous; the right way (the old paths) from a deceptive detour; true doctrine from apostasy, righteous judgment from man’s opinion; the true light from the “new” light; and the divine Church from a culturally developed entity. These divisions must be made to allow Christ and the Church to be known in truth.Jesus Himself verified this truth: “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 the mother in law:” (Luke 12:51-53). Could a clearer picture be drawn of the Body of Christ today? Are we ready for the coming of the Lord? Some corrections are needed.In Jesus’ earthly ministry the conflict was over whether He was truly the Christ; Today in the Church the conflict is over what He actually said. Some want to accept His word at face value, others want to twist and wrest its meaning until it is so distorted that the true message is lost. Those who heard Jesus were divided in their concept of Him; “and there was much murmuring among the people concerning him; for some said, He is a good man; others said, nay; but he deceiveth the people…So there was a division among the people because of him (Jesus)” (John 7:12,43).Concepts can be varied, depending upon the spiritual perception and the heart condition of the one who expresses the concept. The wrong motives affect both spiritual perception and heart condition. Some people can’t get it straight. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!...which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” (Isa. 5:20,23). Utter confusion reigns when those of spiritual corruption attempt to act for God in carrying on His work. In such a situation the righteous suffer and their righteousness is trampled underfoot (cf. psa.94). Justice is turned up-side-down and the cause of Christ is thwarted into confusion and chaos.Light and darkness do not mix. God and evil cannot coexist. The right and wrong spirits can never come to common ground. In every such case division must occur before righteousness and truth can prevail. Cancer and the human body cannot co-exist, if the body is to survive, the cancer must be removed. Anything short of that would be disastrous. Righteousness must withdraw from unrighteousness; truth cannot consort with error. It must separate itself from the unfruitful works of unrighteousness. The only way light can survive is to shine brighter than the enveloping darkness around it.“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) The lack of agreement brings division, and it is important what is agreed upon. If one goes to heaven it will be on God’s terms and no one else’s. The wise person finds what His terms are and meets them. Anything short of that is unacceptable with God. “Depart (separate, divide) from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Psa. 34:14).The watershed in the Church has come. A decision has to be made that has eternal consequences. The choice must be right without regard to life, livelihood, position, standing (in men’s eyes), consequences, or any other earthly consideration. One cannot forever deny the conscience that is based upon the plan and purpose of God. Hirelings are those who consider their personal well-being above the call of God. If one is to be saved, God must be unconditionally first.“There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings” (John 10:19). What sayings? Read carefully the tenth chapter of John. Jesus was speaking of the sheep, the flock, the fold (the Church), thieves (those who steal truth by denying or distorting it), hirelings (those who contradict their consciences for money, position, appointments, etc.), and the other sheep. Jesus was speaking from the aspect of the Church and not Israel when He said “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold” (John 10:16). Will we deny this precious truth? How long will we stand by and see the truth of God beaten to fragmentation by the pseudo-intellectuals who promote themselves as authorities when they have either lost or never had a divine revelation of infallible truth and God’s divine Church.Indecision and incompatibility cannot last forever. The eternal truth will triumph and reign forever. Those who are on the right side of the dividing line will be saved. Where are you, dear one? I am praying for you to be standing on the solid rock of divine revelation when the “shaking” brings the eternal division.Robert J. Pruitt _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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I am set
for the defense
of the
Gospel.
( Philippians 1:17b )
ARE
YOU?
