The Tribune

By Judy Onofri

The Charlotte Sun

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.

– Numbers 33:55

ISRAEL was given specific instructions by God that when they crossed the river Jordan they were to drive out all the inhabitants of the land, for God had given Israel the land to possess.

Why was Israel not allowed to mingle with those people? God always knows what is best for us, and what will ensnare us.

The people in the land had great idolatry. God wanted Israel to destroy all their engraved stones, their molded images and their high places. The inhabitants did not believe or serve the true God of Israel.

How does this apply to us today? Do we think times are different and that God doesn’t understand a world of few borders, or the availability of social media? Do we think the inhabitants of the land won’t hurt us if we allow them into our life?

In 2 Corinthians 6:14 it is written do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? God calls believers righteous and light, He calls unbelievers lawless and darkness. Those are powerful names for Christians, and for those who are not.

We tend to like people because they are nice and have interests similar to ours. But if they do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and they do not serve the God you do, what fellowship can you have with them? The truth is, you can’t.

We don’t like to think of someone who is not a believer as lawless or as darkness, we only see the good and enjoy their company. We think there is no harm having friends who are not believers, and many Christians even marry someone they know does not love God, thinking they will change that person. Who you choose to be close with is important, otherwise as God’s word tells us they will become an irritant to your eyes and a thorn in the flesh.

Do we shun the unbeliever? No, our desire is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost.

The light that is in you and how you live your life should show others you are different and make a way for you to explain why you are set apart for God and why you love, live, and obey Him.

• Judy Onofri is a church elder at Father’s House Fellowship in North Port. E-mail her at onofrijudy@yahoo.com.