Separation Before Creation
The story of creation, in Genesis chapter 1, begins with an emphasis on separation. In verse 4, God separates the light from the darkness and in verse 6 He separates the water on the earth from the waters above the earth. These two acts of creation were accomplished in the first two days. The separation of Light from darkness was not the creation of the sun, moon and stars, for this happened on the fourth day, (vs.14-19). It was the separation of revelation from spiritual blindness, good from evil, righteousness from sin and the presence of God from the presence of Satan. This separation is necessary for any other creative act of God to take place. We can apply this to our own lives in that there is a need of repentance before the new birth, the leaving before entering and of death before life.
The separating of the waters is the separation of the natural from the spiritual. Jesus explained to Nicodemus, in John chapter 3, that one is born of water, (natural birth), and the Spirit, (new birth). What is natural is earthly or carnal and what is spiritual is from above, or heavenly. Water from above, (or rain), is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was taken up in the clouds and will return again in the clouds. Water on the earth is what sustains natural life. These two realities are opposed to, or at enmity with, one another. They are incompatible and thus must be separated. We cannot walk in the flesh and Spirit at the same time.
These two acts of separation preceded the rest of creation, and it has become a pattern for the new life we experience in Christ. Not only must we walk away from sin in repentance to enter the Kingdom of God, but we must daily deny our “flesh” to follow in the Lord’s footsteps. All the “good stuff” comes as a direct consequence of this separation. Sanctification is separation and without this work in our lives we will not experience the good and perfect will of God. The word sanctification is related to word saint, or holy one. To be sanctified, one is set aside, or separated, for a special use. In the Old Testament, utensils used in the Temple were sanctified, as was the altar and the people serving in their ministry. A specific time was set in which the person or instrument was cleansed and prepared for the spiritual function he was set aside to do.
The first six months of my Christian life, I tried to live on both sides of the fence. I had received Jesus into my life, but I still hung out with my old friends and tried to fit into their life style. I was frustrated Christian and a frustrated sinner. Then one Sunday evening, I responded to an altar call at the church I was attending and separated myself completely unto God. I had the sense that I was jumping off a cliff into an abyss. I didn’t know what my future would hold, but I needed to trust the Lord and give myself completely to Him. What a relief I felt, and peace and joy flooding into my soul.
Before this separation occurred in my life, I was unfruitful in reaching my friends for Christ, but after I surrendered all, many of my friends became saved. After the waters were separated, then the rain from above could water the earth. Separation precedes fruitfulness. So, don’t hold back. Don’t try to live with this deadly mixture. Let go and trust the Lord with all your life.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Genesis 1; II Cor. 5.17; Rom. 12.1-2; John 3.3-21; Zec. 10.1; Hosea 10.12; John 17.17