15 April 2019

ARE YOU A POLLUTION REFUGEE?

By John Ollis

I often wake during the night, and depending on how sleepy I am, I will either pray or turn on my radio. My local station connects to BBC World News at night, and just last night when I turned it on there was a news article on Pollution in India. Which according to the program is not at all good. I learnt a new word POLLUTION REFUGEES, it may not be new to you, but it was to me. It appears many Indians are shifting to less polluted areas in their country and some are even migrating overseas because of the pollution.

Immediately, I felt the Holy Spirit say to me, that as Believers we must be POLLUTION REFUGEES, and seek to get away from as much pollution that is in this world as we possibly can. Paul writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV says Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. The MESSAGE expresses it so well “Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God”. Paul describes some of those “youthful lusts” in Gal. 5:19 NKJV
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul uses the word FLEE, that we are to run away as far and as quickly as possible, and says we MUST PURSUE and CHASE AFTER more important non polluting things like”

Letting Christ’s righteousness grow experientially in our lives.

All the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, Paul highlighting FAITH, HOPE & LOVE

Spend quality time OFTEN WITH God’s people.

Paul writing to the Galatian Christians sure highlights a list of “lusts” that we can so easily fall into, if we don’t let Jesus be the Lord of our life 24/7, Most Believers wouldn’t consider these things ever to become part of their lives, sadly, it usually doesn’t start with these things but other subtle things. The radio program talked about the fact that often the pollution is not even visible, but can cause nasty skin infections, and terrible lung problems.

We are so sadly living in a generation in the church where there are many subtle polluting influences, some we hardly even recognise. What I want to write next will cause some to cry out “John you are a legalist”. I am personally very concerned about a few things like:

Christians including Leaders who swear for example.

Christians including Leaders who are drinking too much alcohol. I know the Bible does not teach Total Abstinence, but I feel personally, Christians should CHOOSE NOT TO DRINK ALCOHOL, as it can effect our thinking, and emotions and responses and even our attitudes.

Christians spending too much time on Social Media.

Christians not even bothering to look at the classifications given to movies before they go and see the movie..

I would suggest these are what Solomon calls in SoS 2:15 NKJV The little foxes that spoil the vines. To use a more modern cliché, these things and many others can be THE THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE. The MESSAGE says Foxes who would like nothing better than to get into our flowering garden.

May I recommend to you that you and I ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION, so that you won’t let even the little things “pollute: the “garden of your heart.

These things can be subtle influences, and I recommend we RUN LIKE CRAZY from them, and RUN TOO those things that are described in Phil. 4:8 NKJV Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The PASSION Translation says keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.

With the Lord’s help and grace let us seek to be pollution free amen