When I was a much younger version of myself, I worked at a store called Hamwear. (No, we did not sell wearable meat, but it was clothing.) They were known for oversized tops and bottoms with cute, hand-drawn piggy patterns or other farm style animals on them. The clothing line was also famous for its outfits accented with different colored plaids. If you wanted to make a fun and funky statement, Hamwear was the place to shop.
While working part-time at this store during the weekends, I also worked a full time day job and another part-time gig doing overnights at a radio station. (Yes, I had three jobs- but your girl was living on her own and there were bills to pay) One particular Saturday, I had agreed to work an opening shift at Hamwear, even though I was working the overnight shift at the radio station that Friday. Not sure why I thought I could pull that off, only getting a couple hours of sleep in-between, but hey- we think we’re invincible at that age and do some really dumb things.
I got home from the radio station, looked at the clock and thought, Yeah- I can lay down for a couple of hours and be fine. That was the last thing I remember. I set my alarm, but I suppose at some point I turned it off and fell back asleep because the phone ringing woke me up. It was my manager from Hamwear calling because I wasn’t there to help her open the store.
In that moment of lack of sleep and zero desire to get up, I lied and told her I was sick and couldn’t come in. I hung up the phone and quickly dozed back off. A few short moments later the phone rang. It was her again.
“Brandy, I know you just lied to me. You’re not really sick are you? You overslept.”
Suddenly, I was fully awake because my heart started pounding in my chest. I knew I had been busted. I told her she was correct and explained I had worked the overnight shift at the radio station and was wiped out. I told her I would get up and come right over. There was silence and then she spoke.
“No, I don’t want you to come in. But what I do want you to learn is you need to tell the truth at all times.”
I hung up the phone, but by that time, I really did feel sick. I had been called out. But, looking back on that moment, I also learned a very valuable lesson and resolved from that moment on to be honest, no matter how difficult the situation. My manager was calling me out to live a higher standard and to be a better woman; not to shame me.
Our Heavenly Father does the same thing. Did you know the scripture tells us the Lord corrects those He loves? We can read about it in two different verses.
“For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” -Proverbs 3:12
“Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” -Hebrews 12:6
As a parent, I can appreciate this. We want to see our children thriving- living happy, productive lives which bring honor to God. Many times that calls for us to correct inappropriate behavior and teach them a better way to respond.
So, if the same is true of the Father- yet on an even greater scale- why do we stiffen or possibly even rebel when we are disciplined by the Lord? He calls us out not to shame us, but because He loves us and desires for us to be fully alive in Him, walking in total freedom. Father God’s heart is for you to look more and more like Jesus- the perfect, spotless Lamb.
Hear me out! Perfection is not the goal. God does not lay on our shoulders something we could never in a million lifetimes achieve. But, we are to diligently try to live a life pleasing to Him within the parameters detailed throughout scripture. As a matter of fact, in 1 Peter 1:15-16 we read:
“but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, for it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Peter is quoting Leviticus 19:2:
“Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”
So what does all this mean to me as a Christ follower? Well, let’s start with the basics.
“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not be a partner in her sins and receive her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as the heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness and crimes (for judgement).” -Revelation 18:4-5
And also we read:
“What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said: ‘I will dwell among them and walk among them; and I will be their God and they shall be my people. So come out from among unbelievers and be separate, says the Lord.’” -2 Corinthians 6:16-17a
Twice we are “called out”, but from where? From what?
In the passage in Revelation, the “her” it is referencing is Babylon. Babylon was a wicked, sinful nation in early biblical times, but I do not believe the scriptures in chapter 18 are telling the people to come out of a physical city of Babylon. For one, that city no longer exists.
I believe John (who is the author of Revelation) is using Babylon as a descriptor of the current zeitgeist we are living in. When the people of John’s day would have read passages about the city of Babylon, it would have conjured up certain imagines within their minds. An immoral, Idolatrous, sexually perverse, thieving, lying, selfish society who cared very little for the plight of the every day common man. (Wow, that sounds familiar, huh?)
We are to separate ourselves from the ideology, behavior and precepts of the current age. As Christ followers we should act different, talk different and look different than the unbelieving world.
Our speech should be seasoned with respect.
Our homes should be places of refuge and welcoming to the stranger.
Our dress can reflect current trends, but executed in a modest way.
We should be champions for mercy.
We should exude patience.
We should reflect love at all times.
Lend a hand to those in need.
Search for the least, the lowly and the lost to share the gospel.
There should be no back bitting, bitterness or gossip among us.
Unity should define us.
Civil communication should lead us to understanding.
We don’t compare.
We don’t envy.
Boasting is not an option.
Integrity is nonnegotiable.
Gentleness is a high virtue.
Marriages hold fast to their covenants and fight to stay together, not fight one another.
We work hard.
We give much.
Humility marks us.
Purity of mind and body are areas we will not yield from.
Everything I listed above can be found in the Bible. Guidelines to help us live called out of the “Babylon” we are currently in. When we fail at one (or two or three), God shows us our error and loving draws us to repent. Then He sets us back on the proper path, so we can continue our journey- hopefully wiser than before the stumble. It’s always best practice to learn from our mistakes.
Do you know what awaits those who live set apart from the ideology of this world?
Peace and joy for starters.
These are some of the good gifts that accompany righteous living. There are benefits to doing it God’s way. He’s not tying to be a kill joy. He is trying to kill the things in your life that kill your joy.
Let’s play out a scenario. Say our Father does not correct our mistakes and just lets us continue on our paths. Most of the trappings of this world look beautiful. They blend in with the surroundings. They don’t really stick out, but actually camouflage with the environment.
Take ivy growing on a tree truck, for example. It’s really quite lovely and the green color matches well with the tree’s aesthetic.
As time passes, the ivy grows and continues to spread upward onto the tree.
The effect is quite stunning with its coat of green covering trunk, branches and limbs. The two complement each other nicely actually, and they seem to live in harmony perfectly. Until one day they don’t.
Eventually the ivy takes over most of the tree, stealing the nutrients, and the tree begins to die. What looked like a perfect pair, really was just a farce. You see, this ivy is an invading species to the area. The tree is not meant to interact with that type of plant. If not removed, the ivy will kill the host.
The zeitgeist of today is an invading species to those who belong to the Kingdom of God. His children are not meant to interact with that type of ideology. If not removed, it will steal, kill and destroy the host.
Every. Single. Time.
Yeah, I’ll take my correction now. Please and thank you! 😊