WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL
BECOMES GOD'S ENEMY

"Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity withGod? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God"(James 4:4)

No thoughtful person wants to be the enemy of God. There is no way to ultimately survive such a conflict. Yet, because of deficient teaching and/or uncommitted hearts, myriads of professing Christians have actually become the enemies of God. What a sobering thought.

How does such a dreadful circumstance develop? Some might imagine profound immorality or profligacy is required--something from which recovery is not likely. However, sins like murder, sodomy, fornication, and witchcraft (to name a few) are more the RESULT of being God's enemy than the cause of it.

Our text is addressed to those who claimed to be in Christ Jesus--"brethren" (James 1:2; 2:1; 3:1). In the fourth chapter of James, the Lord's brother takes these people to task for their divided hearts. In a scathing rebuke he calls them "Adulterers and adulteresses!" (4:1). These people had prostituted their affection, giving it to the world instead of to Jesus. Unfortunately, they were neither the first nor the last guilty of this transgression.

The manner in which these people were living had hidden an obvious facet of truth to them. It was not a novel view, but one upon which their very salvation hinged. "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" And what is "enmity with God?" It is hatred and hostility, animosity and discord. This is a condition in which the person is actually at war with Almighty God. It is the state from which we were rescued in Christ Jesus in the first place--i.e., that of being the "enemies" of God (Rom 5:10). What a staggering consideration!

Friendship with the world thrusts one into this state. The embrace of the world's perspective, and the adoption of its manner of thinking, make one hostile toward God. At-home-ness in this world puts the individual at variance with the Sovereign of the universe. A sobering thought, indeed!

This is why some of us are concerned about the present condition of the Western church. There is too much of the world in its ways. Its thought patterns are not after a "godly sort" (2 Cor 7:11). There is an uncomely sympathy for professing believers who are caught in transgression. The situation of a "brother" ensnared by sin is so serious, such are to be restored "in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted" (Gal 6:1).

When hostility exists in the church, we have fallen on hard times! Let every soul that wears the name of Jesus take seriously the Divine mandate. "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty" (2 Cor 6:17-18). After all, the purpose of salvation is to separate us from the cursed order in order to Divine fellowship and utility.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, give me grace to remain a stranger in this world, working with You to turn men from the ways of the world.

-- MONDAY: CONCLUSION OF CURRENT SERIES, THE SURETY OF THE REWARD --
-- TUESDAY: New Series, SANCTIFICATION --