Which crowd do you really want to be "IN" with?

I think that because most of us know that we are in the end times we are on
the look out for way too much. We are looking for the "false prophets" and
they have been with us all along. We are looking for the "Religious Spirit"
and it has been with us all along. We are looking for "antichrist" and they
have been with us all along. Although I personally believe that THE
Antichrist is alive and well right now on earth, I do not believe, due to
how the times line up with scripture that he is active just yet. However,
his evil emissaries are here and have been all along. So where do we find a
comfort zone? We can become so distracted by being self appointed
"spiritual police" that we lose all we do have in our relationship with
Christ. That relationship should be the only thing that occupies every hour
of every day. BUT, I do think that and according to 2 Corinthians 6:13-7:1
(Amplified Bible) which states, "By way of return then, do this for me--I
speak as to children--open wide your hearts also [to us].
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances
with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your
faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God
with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with
darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]?
Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement [can
there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the
living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and
will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they
shall be My people. So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate
(sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean
thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, And I will
be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty. THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and
spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential]
fear of God."
What I am saying is that Jesus came "down" to earth and took on human form
and died for ours sins as a perfect human being. He accomplished what none
of us to date has been able to, nor ever will, be able to do, and that is to
overcome sin. If we could, then Jesus would never have had to die for us.
We strive to be "Christ like" in all we do. And we should. We often ask,
and it has become a popular question and slogan..."What Would Jesus Do?"
"WWJD". But the sooner we realize that we are not and do NOT possess the
strength of Christ, we will stop "becoming" one of the lost in order to save
the lost. Let's stay where the sacrifice of the Blood of the Lamb has put
us. Let us show the world what a wonderful life we have through and in
Jesus. We don't have to don the rags of the world to reach it. We don't
have to mark and pierce our bodies to reach those who do. Now if someone
has come to Christ after they have defiled their bodies, then it is under
the blood. However, I don't think that defiling your body in anyway once
you have received Christ is proper. Neither does 1 Corinthians, chapter 6,
which tell us "Your bodies are members of Christ Himself ... Do you not know
that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have
received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
Therefore honor God with your body." We DO NOT have to defile to reach the
defiled. We do not have to become lost to reach the lost. Let's not bring
Jesus and all he stands for DOWN to the level of the sinners! He already
did that. And again I say we are not strong enough to do it. Just look at
what has just happened to Todd Bentley. And he is not alone. Over the
years many who have allowed themselves to come down to the level of who they
were trying to reach have fallen prey to the enemy. Yes they have fallen,
but the part of the tragedy that no one seems to talk about is what impact
does this have on those precious "new" souls that were just saved. "He's no
different than we are" is a sad comment made by those, who in the light of
the fall of a Christian, abandon their salvation and return to their life as
usual in sin. Let's not be a walking mockery of what Christ did for us.
Stand tall, and be proud of who you are in Christ. That and the joy
evidenced in you along with the Word will make the lost and dying want to
have what you have. Bring them up to that high place that Jesus bought for
you with His own blood on the Cross! I once saw a t-shirt that a woman was
wearing. It said, "Property of God, You Are, So ACT Like It!" Come out
from among them. Think about it. Are you continuing the appearance of, or
taking on the appearance of the lost because you want to be in with the "IN"
crowd? Which "crowd" do you really want to be "IN" with?....Patti