Carl Allen has preached the gospel for many years. Much of his work as been in Texas.
“14 Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and inequity? Or what communion hath light with darkness?” II Cor. 6:14. This text, and context, is describing things that are opposites; thus, the idea of light and darkness are poles apart. Spiritually, if one is of light he is not of darkness and he that is of darkness is not of the light. One cannot be in the light and at the same time be in darkness; also, one who is in darkness cannot be in light. We do not think of the man who is righteous as being unrighteous; nor, do we think of the man who is ungodly as being godly. There is a discussion in John the 8th chapter, as to who the Jew’s father was. Were they of the devil or of God? To be of God would be to walk in light; but, to be of the Devil would be to walk in darkness, Jno. 8.
The idea of God being light in many passages, including this one, is that he is “holy:” “15 But like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; 16 because it is written , Ye shall be holy; for I am holy,” I Pet. 1:15-16. God is apart from sin and has nothing to do with sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were expelled from his presence, Gen. 3:24, “24 So, he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” Also, it should be noted that when certain angels sinned God cast them out: “4 For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment,” II Pet. 2:4. It is clear God does not tolerate sin in his presence – he is a God of light!
Someone said, many years ago: “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.” This is the reason for Christians being told to “follow” Christ, I Cor. 11:1. This is the reason for our being “transformed,” as is stated in Rom. 12:2. As one obeys the Gospel, the expression: “newness of life,” describes what he has become. We are seeking a “prepared place for a prepared people.” May the Lord bless each of us as we make ready for that “heavenly place.”
There is a passage that teaches our concentration is to be focused on making proper preparation: “37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment,” Matt. 22:37-38. We should desire intently to go to heaven and this should be pursued with all of our being.
This becomes a goal for our life and it must be sought. Possibly the words of the Lord express it better: “24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If a man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matt. 16:24-26, KJV. Our whole life is to be changed to make us fit subjects to be in heaven with God – “now is the time of preparation,” II Cor. 6:2.
“27 And there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life,” Rev. 21:7. Now is the time to make all things clean and to possess a new life, so we shall be worthy to enter in and dwell in heaven with God. May the Lord help us to make proper preparation for that holy city
Caa …..