Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28,29)

There is a resurrection to eternal life and there is a resurrection to judgment, to disgrace and contempt.

Our perception of the resurrection and the kind of rewards that are desirable change considerably when we understand the nature of the day of redemption. We begin to grasp the fact that the purpose of our being raised is that we may return to earth. Our reward is the same as that of the Lord Jesus—to inherit the saved nations of the earth and the farthest reaches of our planet.

Whoever dreams of a gorgeous mansion and acres of diamonds as his reward does not understand his own heart. We humans, although we may not realize it, care very little for splendid homes or diamonds. What interests us is people—especially our loved ones.

To inherit one person is better than ten thousand spirit paradises. Think about it. What good is a great house and a drawer full of diamonds if there is no one to love? How much would we enjoy an entire planet of our own if there were no one with whom to share it?

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned [scorned]. (Song of Solomon 8:7)

To inherit nations of people so we may love them and bring the Glory of Christ to them is worth more than many mansions and tons of gold and precious stones.

Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. (Isaiah 60:4)

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (II Timothy 2:4)

As long as our goal is to live in Heaven forever, and the way we are to get there (we think) is through God's forgiveness apart from any change of our personality or behavior, then there is not a pressing need for diligent, stern, total separation to God for His purposes.

But if it indeed is true that Christ has chosen us to be a soldier, and that this is not a mere figure of speech, a Sunday school sort of metaphor, if we really are a soldier in a genuine army and our task will be to redeem the world through judgment and force, then separation from the world is seen to be very necessary.

We cannot judge something we are part of.

Satan cannot cast out Satan.

The Word of God is a two-edged sword. When we attempt to use it we ourselves will be slain if there is worldliness, sin, and self-will in us.

Whoever loves and is part of the spirit of the present world does not have the love of the Father in him.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (I John 2:15)

To be continued.