“In The Beginning” Part 4 The Image of the Best

Mentone February 7, 2015

What difference can seven seconds make? On May 23, 2008, Joel Ifergan rushed to a nearby convenience store in Quebec, Canada. He wanted to get there before 9 p.m. in order to purchase two tickets for the Super Seven lottery, by that time valued at about 28 million. At 8:59 he plunked down his money in front of store owner Mehernosh Iranpur, and one at a time the tickets spilled from the machine. The first bore the time insignia of 8:59 p.m., but because the tickets are processed one at a time, the second was just a few seconds later and bore time mark of 9:00:07. That second ticket had all the winning numbers; every single one of them, and Joel thought that since he had, in his mind, made the purchase before the 9 p.m. cutoff, he would be declared the winner.

The lottery commission disagreed and refused to pay him, citing the fact that the ticket, since the machine had issued it after 9 p.m., witnessed by the time printed right on the ticket itself, pertained to the next week’s game, for which his numbers didn’t match. Joel sued, and now 7 years later the Supreme Court of Canada has decided against him. Seven seconds cost him becoming a millionaire! Here’s his picture, with the disappointment evident on his face. If he had gotten to the store just a minute earlier, how things would be different, and how his life would have changed!

We bring this up only because there will be countless people who will miss out on something much more important than the millions lost by Joel, because they will have procrastinated in making their decision to accept the gift of salvation offered by God. The devil is just fine with people thinking, “I’m going to make that decision. I know that I need to, but I’ll wait just a little longer before doing it.” Don’t be that person! Receive Christ into your life now, and become an heir to the biggest “prize” of all, eternal life! Don’t be “seven seconds too late.”

As we’ve seen, Genesis 1 is not only the story of creation, as vital as that is, but it is also the story of re-creation. We’ve noted 7 points of comparison between the two models, which are: 1) The final objective: the image of God. 2) The condition when God starts His work: darkness, without form and void. 3) God exercises creative power. 4) The Spirit Who “hovers.” 5) “Let there be light.” 6) The principle of “separate and divide.” 7) The “fruit” and the “seed” which produces “after his (His) kind.”

As we studied last Sabbath, as we looked at the first 3 in that list of 7 points of comparison, God starts with us when we are in “darkness,” and our lives are spiritually “without form and void,” and then He exercises His mighty and awesome creative power to make us new. We’ve talked about the immense energy of God’s power to bring matter into existence; remember the comparison of 2500 atomic blasts representing just the energy necessary to bring 5 pounds of matter into existence. We try to grapple with what that means as we think of the immensity of mass contained in the earth, our solar system, our galaxy and the entire universe. And that’s just talking about bringing into existence inanimate mass. God’s energy went way beyond that, because He turned much of that mass into living matter, with plants, animals and humans.

This huge reservoir of God’s limitless supply of energy is important to recognize, because in a sense, the project on which He is now at work, the restoration of the sinful soul, is even more difficult to accomplish. When God said, “Let there be” in Genesis 1, there was no stubborn, rebellious human will to resist His directive.

It is to His glory that He can restore sinners to saints. Talk to any builder and they will tell you that remodeling is always more challenging than new construction. You never know what surprises and mysteries lurk behind those walls! And so it is that today, in this sinful existence, God’s “mission statement” to “Let Us make man in Our image,” even after sin came in, within sinful flesh and a sinful nature, comprises a radical plan, an seemingly unimaginable attainment. Yet, through His power, He is able to do just that, for those who willingly submit to His Spirit.

“Out of nothing,” ex nihilo, which describes both His technique in creating the world as well as describing our spiritual condition before He comes into our lives, He makes something good. As long as I realize that I am “nothing” as for as righteousness goes, there is hope for me. Paul said, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:10. Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. It is His unique gift, His special pleasure and delight to re-make us into His image, His icon.

This matter of being made into the “image of God,” the molding of our characters into the reflection of Jesus, is the work of our lifetime. But in an instant, by fiat creation, we are given a restored standing in His sight, and given the light of the knowledge of His gracious love and Being. Purpose and meaning replace aimless wandering. He brings us into loving relationship with Him and inscribes on our hearts His image, His likeness, His character. Genesis 1:26, “Let Us make man in Our image,” is fulfilled in us, even in a sinful world.

Those were the first 3 of 7 points of comparison. We continue with our study of Genesis 1 as it parallels physical creation and spiritual re-creation. The last 4 of the 7 points are: 4) The Spirit Who “hovers.” 5) “Let there be light.” 6) The principle of “separate and divide.” 7) The “fruit” and the “seed” that reproduces “after his kind.” I had thought that we would be able to cover all four of these last seven today, but I can see that that won’t be possible. We’ll have to save the last one for next time.

We now come now to the fourth point, which is given in Genesis 1:1, 2. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” What divine Agency participated in the creation of Genesis 1 as well as making possible our re-creation? It is the Spirit. “The Spirit was hovering over the face of the waters.” What a powerful phrase that is! There is a whole sermon in it. Let that message of love fill and warm your heart! The point we want to stress today is that this picture of the “Spirit hovering over the waters” is still applicable today. Today, in 2015, “The Spirit is hovering over the face of the waters.” What do “waters” represent in Scripture? Revelation 17:15 informs us that they are “people, multitudes, nations and tongues.” The Spirit is still today “hovering” over the vast sea of humanity, seeking those who will allow Him entrance.

The word “hovering” is particularly meaningful. It’s the same word that Moses later used when describing how God led Israel from Egypt. Deuteronomy 32:11 says, “As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, so the LORD alone led him.”

What a beautiful picture! As an eagle hovers over its young, in the sense of parental love, care, shelter and protection, so the Spirit “hovers” over humanity today. Not in an intrusive, violent way, for that is not God’s method, but in a way that searches for the invitation to come into your life and mine. Our gracious Lord, in trying to tell us about Himself, compares His loving nature to 3 types of birds. He is the eagle that hovers, as we just read in Deuteronomy, He is the dove that descends in blessing, as at Jesus’ baptism, the dove that goes out and searches for signs of life as in the story of Noah’s ark, and He is the hen that protects. Jesus used that metaphor when He told the Jewish leaders in Matthew 23:37, “How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” Let that word “hover,” as it describes the gentle and caring ministry of the Spirit, bless you in your spiritual journey. The Holy Spirit, Who is still “hovering” over the vast sea of humanity, waits to bring order out of chaos, symmetry from confusion.

Sister White writes, “However wretched may be the specimens of humanity that men spurn and turn aside from, they are not too low, too wretched, for the notice and love of God. Christ longs to have care-worn, weary, oppressed human beings come to Him. He longs to give them the light and joy and peace that are to be found nowhere else. The veriest sinners are the objects of His deep, earnest pity and love. He sends His Holy Spirit to yearn over them with tenderness, seeking to draw them to Himself.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 226.

He starts with us being in darkness, our lives without form and empty. Then, through His mighty Word, the process of regeneration begins. He re-creates us into His likeness, His image. What happened next in the creation of the physical world? Here’s the fifth point of comparison. God said, “Let there be light.” What is the “light” that the Scriptures are talking about in this spiritual sense? The light is the truth about God, His love, His kingdom, His law and His just requirements. In our day it includes the special truths to prepare us for Jesus’ coming. Satan has hidden all these truths under the cloak of deception, but when God says, “Let there be light,” the fog of those fabrications is dispelled, and the truth of Who He really is, that He is a God of love and justice can be seen.

The light of this truth is not merely information. It’s a living Truth. It’s a Person, Jesus Christ, Who came into this world to reveal the glory of the light of God’s character. So many people today are laboring under a gross misunderstanding of what God is like. They don’t know Him, “Whom to know is life eternal.” John 17:3. They’re misguided by the slurs of Satan, stumbling under the mist and darkness of his lies. But through the Word, both the written and living Word, God’s true character has been revealed. The light of truth has shone in this dark world of sin.

Let’s look at a few Bible passages that use this imagery. This was prophesied in the Old Testament. Proverbs 4:19, 18. “The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” Isaiah 9:2. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.”

Notice when we read Isaiah 42:5-7 that it parallels God’s creative activity in the physical world with His re-creative work in the spiritual world. “Thus says the LORD, Who created (bara) the heavens and stretched them out (that’s Genesis 1:1, isn’t it), Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it (that’s Genesis 1:2, isn’t it, the image of the “hovering Spirit”): ‘I, the LORD, have called You (Jesus) in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles (that’s Genesis 1:3), to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.’” There you have the first three verses of the Bible applied to the mission of the Messiah, the re-creation of lost souls.

These prophecies were fulfilled when Jesus, Who is the express Image (character) of the Father, came into this world to bring the light of the truth about God. In a special and unique way, when Jesus came to this earth it was as if God said, “Let there be Light.” He came to “declare” Him, or make Him known. John 1:18. He was and is the Embodiment of truth and light. He and no other could rightly say, “I am the Light of the world.” John 8:32. Jesus was the “true Light, which gives light to every man (and woman) who comes into the world.” John 1:9. I Peter 2:9 reads, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” When Jesus was born into this world, it was as if God were saying, “Let there be Light.”

God is still saying today, “Let there be light.” He wants us to share the light of His love with this sin-darkened world. He says to us today, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16. This text is the Genesis 1:3 of the New Testament. When Jesus, the Creator God, says “Let,” things happen! That word unleashed a newly designed world in Genesis 1. It’s His command that brings His power into action. And that same power He wants to give to us so that we can light this world enveloped by the darkness of sin. If we allow Him, He will make that happen.

Let there be the light of knowing God’s gracious character. He’s not the mean and evil despot Satan claims. Let there be the light that God’s plan is soon going to be fulfilled and Jesus is coming soon to take us home. Let there be the light of the special truths for this time; that we need to love and worship Him and obey all His commandments. Let there be light that there’s a better way, by living in harmony with the health principles given in the Word and in the writings of His prophet Ellen G. White. The world is walking in darkness and obscurity: “Let there be light.” You and I are called to be light-bearers and share with the world the truth about God. Let there be light as you go to someone’s house this afternoon and knock on their door, or meet someone this week as you go about your activities, giving you an opportunity to tell them about Jesus. “Let there be light.”

Knowing the truth of God, Who He is, how much He loves us, what His great plan is for this planet, makes all the difference in the world. It changes what had been darkness and emptiness into purpose and meaning. Have you received His light? Have you prayed for the light of His love to shine in your heart? How do you get this “light”? It’s by spending time daily in His Word, which is a “lamp to my feet and a light to my path”? Psalm 119:105.

Point 4 was the “hovering Spirit.” Point 5 was “Let there be light.” Point number six highlights the principle of separation and division we see in Genesis 1. This also finds a parallel in our Christian walk. You see God at work separating and dividing in Genesis 1. Interestingly, four different times, in each of the first four days, God conducted a work of separation or division. In day one, He divided the light from the darkness. “God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:4. That accomplished a work of separation. In day two, He divided the waters above from the waters below. “Then God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.’” Genesis 1:6. That was another work of separation, wasn’t it. We’ll talk more about this one in a few minutes. In day three He separated the land and the sea. “Then God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’” Genesis 1:9. That also was a work of separation. In day four He separated the day from the night with the creation of sun and moon. “Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night.’” Genesis 1:14.

We see these four “separations” falling into what we call a “chiastic” structure, represented by the letters ABba. You see a similarity between these separations on days one and four, the first and last in this sequence. In days one and four they deal with dividing light from darkness. On days 2 and three there were separations that occurred dealing with dividing waters from waters and water from land.

Let’s talk just for a minute about what happened on day 2 in this matter of separation or division. “Then God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.’” We need to have a clear understanding about just what this verse says. It provides information that helps us understand many things about the pre-Flood earth and how life on this planet changed after the Deluge. This verse clearly indicates that there was a blanket, a shield of water elevated above the earth, in orbit in space. It could have been solid, liquid or gas. The effect of it was to shelter the earth from the sunlight, diffusing and spreading it so that it was evenly distributed around the globe. Do you see the picture?

What was the result of this shield being in space? It meant that the temperature of the earth was uniform. It was moderated by this watery shield so that there were no extremes in heat or cold. The earth was essentially a global greenhouse. It produced vegetation prodigiously. When the flood came, buried and compressed organic material, what do we find today? We find massive coal beds; petroleum in abundance, representing the vast forests and animal life that existed prior to the Deluge.

And this prolific growth was not limited to just a narrow band near the equator. It spread across the face of the entire sphere. Scientists can go to the poles today and do core drillings, penetrating the surface, and what do they discover? They find the remains of tropical vegetation. Banana trees once existed where now the North Pole is! How was that possible? It was largely because of this wonderful shield that God put in space, the waters that He placed above the firmament that spread and diffused the warmth and energy of the sun uniformly around the globe.

Beside this, it’s possible that below the surface of the earth God had in place a subterranean circulating heating system; water circulating toward the heated core of the earth and then back up to the surface to warm the soil so that it became just perfect for growing all this vegetation that we know existed before the Flood, large in quantity, large in size. What do the fossils tell us about the size of plants and animals that existed before? They were much larger, weren’t they. Even today we have hot springs and geysers that spew their heated streams into the air. They may be just the remnants of God’s pre-Flood subterranean heating system.

But then what happened, to the “waters above”? They came crashing down. The “windows of heaven were opened.” Genesis 7:11. Along with the “fountains of the deep” that were broken up, there was a large amount of water suddenly brought to the surface of the earth, from above and below, causing the world-wide Deluge that the Bible describes. After that protective shield came down, now we experience extremes in temperature. Now the sweltering ribbon of the equator is in stark contrast to the icecaps of the poles. But it wasn’t so in the beginning, when God divided the waters above from the waters below. Life, both in physical size and longevity is shortened.

Day 2 was just one of 4 episodes of “dividing” that God conducted. What do all these separations mean in our Christian walk? What’s the spiritual application of this principle? This signifies how God is now doing a work of separation in our lives, preparing us for the kingdom above. We see this “separating” work evidenced in 4 phases, just as He “separated and divided” during the first four days of Creation week. First, it is His objective to separate from us sin. Second, He separates us from unholy alliances. Third, He will separate us and protect us during the 7 last plagues. And fourth, when He comes in the sky He will separate the sheep from goats, the wheat from the tares.

We see a parallel in these 4 phases of separation with the 4 separations of Genesis 1. When He separates us from the darkness of sin, it is like when on day one He separated light from darkness. When He separates us from those who do not want to follow Him, it is like when He “separated the waters ‘above’ from the waters ‘below’” on day 2. When He separates us from the world during the plagues, it is something like what happened on day 3, when He separated the water from the dry land, or earth. And, when He separated day from night on day four by creating sun and moon, it is something like when He comes in the clouds of glory and the “sons of the day,” as Paul refers to those who are ready when Jesus comes in I Thessalonians 5, rise to the sky to meet the Sun of righteousness, while the “sons of the night” forever reside in darkness.

Then the prophecy of Isaiah will come pass which reads, “‘Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?’ The watchman said, ‘The morning comes, and also the night.’” On that Day, it will be the dawn of the eternal day for the righteous, while it will be the settling into the darkness of eternity for the wicked. Then the separation process will have become permanent and complete. “Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” Malachi 3:18.

When we come to Christ, we are laden with evil habits and practices. He wishes to excise them from our lives. Unholy thoughts and unholy deeds He wants and has the power to remove from us. Jesus came to save us “from our sins.” Matthew 1:21. He is the divine Refiner Who is purifying from us the dross of iniquity, the scum of sin, leaving the pure metal in which He can see a reflection of His face. He is separating us from evil thoughts and practices.

Secondly, He is separating us from unholy alliances with those who would draw us away from Him. “Iron sharpens iron.” We are influenced by those with whom we keep close company. “Birds of a feather flock together.” God knows the seductive enticing influence of evil, and He would protect us from becoming drawn into its net by companionship with those whose hearts are not converted. No, we don’t become hermits when we follow God! But we are careful to choose as our close companions those whose hearts beat in harmony with the rhythm of heaven.

We may be weighed down with friendships and connections which tend to draw us away from our new-found life in God. In mercy, Jesus works to separate us from anything that would hinder our spiritual growth and making progress toward reaching the objective of reflecting His likeness, His image. Remembering that in Scripture the term “water” is used symbolically to represent humanity, He is now separating the “waters from the waters.”

That work was illustrated as the family line of Seth prospered independently from the family line of Cain. There was a distinct difference, a marked demarcation between the worshipers of Jehovah, the family of Seth, and the godless generations of Cain. Seth’s family became known as God’s children. In those days the family of Seth began to “call themselves by the name of the Lord.” Genesis 4:26 KJV margin. Today we “call ourselves by the name of the Lord” when we identify ourselves as being “Christians.” That wasn’t the precise name they used back then, but they became known as God’s sons and daughters, in contrast to the godless line of Cain. God had “separated the waters from the waters,” and as long as that distinction remained clear and well-defined, it kept chaos away. But wait till we come to chapter six of Genesis, when that line became murky and slurred, and intermarriages became the practice between the families of Seth and Cain. Then spirituality and godliness plummeted on Planet Earth.

We see that “separation of the waters” demonstrated in Abraham being “separated” out of the land of the Chaldees. The families of Jacob and Esau were to be separated one from the other. “And the LORD said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.’” Genesis 25:23.

The Israelites were “separated” from the evil nations about them. “And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.” Leviticus 20:26. Solomon prayed, at the dedication of the temple, “They are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt out of the iron furnace, for You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your inheritance.” I Kings 8:51, 53.

The Levites were specially called to the work of the ministry. “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine.” Numbers 8:14. “Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the LORD God of Israel.” Ezra 6:21. In New Testament times, He has “separated” His church, His “called out ones” (ekklesia) from the world.

Sometimes this work of separation is painful. Sometimes it hurts. But it is a necessary component in our spiritual development. Jesus alluded to this work of separation in the spiritual application of Genesis 1 when He said in Matthew 10:34-37. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.’ And ‘a man’s foes will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

What is the “sword” that Jesus brings that brings about this separation? It is the might cleaver of Truth, His holy Word, the Bible, the “sword of the Spirit,” the “two-edged sword” that is living and powerful. Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12.

Many years ago a husband and wife attended some Adventist meetings down in San Diego, held by Elder Calvin Osborn. They were invited to go there by their family physician, Dr. Oster. The meetings were held in a Masonic building in Ocean Beach which was literally next door to my maternal grandparent’s house. I remember as a 5-year-old going to my grand parent’s house for a bite to eat, then walking down the sidewalk to the building next door, where the evangelistic meetings were being held.

Though the things they heard were new to them, they had to agree that the teachings all came from the Bible. When they made their decision to become Seventh-day Adventists, other members of their family shunned and disowned them. My mother’s sisters and parents had nothing to do with her. When the grandparents passed away, my mother was given no share in the estate. This “separation” continued until just a few years before one of my aunts passed away, when she and my mother were able to spend a short time together. Sometimes when we follow God’s truth; sometimes when the “light” shines in the “darkness,” separation and division are the results. Choices regarding lifestyle and interests bring a change in friendships and family ties. It might bring pain to our hearts, but following God is more important than anything else in life. Some of you may know by personal experience what this involves.

In I Peter 4:3, 4 we read, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.”

In II Corinthians 6:14-18 Paul refers to the “separation” that takes place in a Christian’s life. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore, ‘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.”

In this life He will separate sin from us as He works to restore in us the image of God. He separates us from the alliances which would draw away from Him. Then, thirdly, one day all choices will be final, and those who have chosen Him will receive the seal of God. Then will fall on this planet the seven last plagues as predicted in Revelation 16. But God’s people will be protected from them, just as His people were protected in the “seven last plagues” of Egypt. You remember that there were 10 plagues that came upon Egypt just before Israel’s deliverance. During the first three of those, the Israelites suffered alongside of the Egyptians.

But then something marvelous happened, beginning with the fourth plague. I think it was intentional on God’s part that He did this at this point, as He protected them in the “seven last plagues.” What did He do? He did a work of separation that brought protection to His chosen people. Again, He “separated the waters from the waters.” Following the third plague of lice but before the fourth plague of flies, listen to what the Lord said. “And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land. I will make a difference (“ransom”) between My people and your people.” Exodus 8:22, 23. That’s a work of separation, isn’t it.

In the KJV it says, “I will sever in that day the land of Goshen.” The Hebrew word there is palah which means to “sever, separate, be distinct, be distinguished, be wonderful.” In the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint, the word is paradoxazo, from which derives our word “paradox.” The Greek word signifies a “marvelous distinction.” You see the root dox in that word which means “glory,” as in “doxology.” This word meaning a “marvelous distinction” is repeated in the LXX of Exodus 9:4 and 11:7.

This is what God is doing in our lives now! He is making a “marvelous distinction” between His people and the world. This work of “separation” that was depicted in Genesis 1 is a symbol of what He wants to accomplish in our spiritual lives. He wants us to be His “peculiar people,” His “special treasure.” I Peter 2:9. That’s why it saddens Him so much when His people want to copy the ways of the world and dilute this “marvelous distinction” that He wants to put on display in the lives of those in whom He is re-creating His image, His likeness.

Here’s His promise. Those who allow Him to conduct this work of separation from the world today will reap the benefits of being in that class who are separated and protected during the seven last plagues. Psalm 91 speaks to that, doesn’t it. But modern day Goshen will not enjoy this physical protection from the plagues unless she allows God to do the work of spiritual separation that He wants to do in our characters now.

And fourthly, shortly after the period when God “severs” His people in spiritual Goshen from the seven last plagues, He will come in the clouds, and will separate and sever the sheep from the goats, the weeds from the wheat, the good and bad “fish.” Matthew 13:49 says, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just.” We want to be in that group which has enjoyed all four aspects of that “separation” and “division” work, don’t we! We want Him to separate and remove sin from our lives now. We want Him to cut us free from any entangling alliance that would hinder our spiritual growth. We want to be among those who are separated and protected during the last plagues that fall on this planet. And we want to be separated as the sheep from the goats to be taken to glory. That’s your desire today, isn’t it?