2 Corinthians 6:14 – Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Ezra 10:11 – Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

Ezra 10:19 – And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.

Separation in Marriage

The book of Ezra shows that God takes marrying right pretty serious.  The Jews, especially the Levites and priests, had started to marry heathen. Some of them even had children with these heathen women.  It was so bad that Ezra and the leaders planned a mass divorce ceremony to “put away” these heathen wives that the Levites and others had married.  Not only that, he told them to separate “from the people of the land.”  God takes separation pretty serious I would say.  Do we?

Separation in the Home

Separation starts in the home.  Young people, it is vitally important that you do not get mixed up with heathen.  Courting is old fashioned but it is God’s way.  Dating is a very modern thing and only promotes immorality. It is best not to even start courting until there has been lots of prayer and council with parents and pastors.  You should allow God to direct you to a potential mate that is like minded, not just a Christian.  They should have the same Bible, same convictions, same love of God, and same walk with God as you.  If you want a godly spouse you had better start with your own walk and separation.

Separation in Friends

Separation is important in our friends and acquaintances. We need to make sure we have good, godly friends.  Just because they go to church with you does not make them godly.  Righteousness and unrighteousness do not mix together.  The unrighteous will always corrupt the righteous.  The lost are your ministry, not your friends, as Pastor Jim Krohn would say.  Separate yourselves from the world.  If you are mixed up with the world, then a divorce ceremony, as Ezra did, would be in order.