With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God. — II Corinthians 7:1
At the end of Chapter 6, there is an exhortation to live clean, to come out and separate ourselves from the ways that everyone else is doing things — to look and act differently and carry ourselves in a way that eschews compromise and corruption. God promises that when we live this way, He will dwell with us and be a Father to us.
What does it look like to live in such a way that we leave corruption and compromise and make a clean break with anything that defiles or distracts us — inside and outside? What does it look like to not link up with those who will pollute you? There’s a saying that I have heard that says that we can’t “mix and mingle” with the stuff of the world. That is essentially what Paul is saying here. But what does that look like in daily life? How do you live in such a way that you are not compromising or even worse, living in corruption?
Paul then speaks of having fit bodies — like a holy temple set aside for worship. Have you ever walked into a place that was set aside to worship — like a cathedral or a house of prayer — and there’s a feeling of sacredness or holiness. Like you can almost tangibly feel the prayers and songs that have been offered in that room. It has been set aside for a purpose. God has created these amazing vessels of life that walk around and do fantastic things — from creativity, engineering, building, analyzing, feeling, counseling, working the land, and experiencing all the wonder of life. Because we have been endowed with such a body, should we not then learn to make a clean break with anything that defiles us physically as well as spiritually and mentally? Since our body was made to reflect the glory of God — and that comes in all forms of shapes and colors and flavors. Learning to care about our bodies by eating good food and nutrients in proper proportions; by exercising and strengthening our muscles and increasing our endurance; by getting the right amount of sleep; by learning the importance of work and accomplishment and … equally knowing the value of sabbath rest. If our bodies are out of sync, that’s usually when compromise occurs, because it is hard for our minds and spirits to stay engaged and focused.
I think the point Paul was making is that living a life of compromise or corruption is something that we have been called out of — if we claim to be followers of Christ, we will speak differently, act differently. If we truly follow the two great commandments of loving God and loving others, this should immediately set us apart. People should be able to look at us and know that we walk with peace and demonstrate love. They will see the joy that radiates from our faces because we are seeking and experiencing communion with Christ and that changes us daily. It changes how we treat others. It changes how we treat ourselves. And that’s a good thing, isn’t it?
May supernatural peace wash over us and may our hearts be flooded with hope. As we seek Christ, may the journey change each of us to reflect His goodness and love.