How To Walk Through A Coal Mine Without Getting Dirty
By Kathi Kaseman
Philippians 2:15 says to prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.
Notice the words “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.” Though we are not to be of the world, we are to be in the world. Shortly before He was arrested, Jesus prayed for His disciples about their relationship with the world. He said, “I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world’, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one” (John 17:14-15). Jesus doesn’t ask the Father to isolate His disciples from the world, but to insulate them, “To keep them from the evil one.”
The world is designed to: 1) attract us, 2) gain our interest, and 3) seduce us from God. It is anti-God. It is anti-Christ. It will appeal to you. You will love it! Don’t forget Satan is the God of this world system (2 Corinthians 4:4). It is easy to let the world intoxicate us. It is not a day to be passive.
When you get married you set yourself apart for your mate. When you become a Christian you set yourself apart for Christ. One translation of Romans 12:1-2 says, “don’t let the world around you squeeze you into it’s mold” (verse 2).
1 Peter 1:17 says we are to walk so it reflects our reverence to God. How do we do that?
I) Focus our minds on Christ; we end up acting what we think. Set your affections on things above (Colossians 3:1-2).
2) Pay attention to what you look at (I Peter 1:13).
3) Give greater thought to the consequences of sin rather than it’s pleasure (I Peter 1:14).
PROVERBS – Chapter 7 (Dakes Translation)
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding.
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house.
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore, came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 1 have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. YE CHILDREN: four commands: evil effects of adultery
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, 0 ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. Last verse: “HER HOUSE IS THE WAY TO HELL!”
28) Start each day renewing your sense of reverence for God (I Peter 1:17). Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh (11 Corinthians 7:1).
29) Throughout the day focus fully on Jesus (I Peter 1:18-21 ).
Looking unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
1 Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “you shall be holy, for I am Holy.”
After reading those four verses again, you can’t help but catch something of Peter’s assertive spirit. He seems to be saying that this is no time to kick back; it isn’t the day for passivity. Notice how strong his verbs are “gird your minds, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope.”
It is easy to lose sight of that hope; easy to let the world intoxicate us and fuzz our minds. But if we are going to shake ourselves out of that dizzying spell, we must resist the power it exerts on us. Then you can be in this world, not of it!
Then you can walk through that coal mine – no matter how crooked and perverse it is – and stay clean!
The Above Material Was Published By Jim Kaseman Ministries,, June 1993, Pages 1,2. This Material Is Copyrighted And May Be Used For Study & Research Purposes Only.
