“In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.” –Nehemiah 13: 23-24
The consequence of an action will not always immediately follow the action itself. In many cases, consequences come much later. After the action or decision has remained in the annals of time. It is then we look back and see the error of our ways and grasp the realization of our mistake. Only to desperately hope there is time for reconciliation.
The scripture tells us that the Jews had married the wives of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab; “and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews’ language.” God has always wanted a separate people. Unlike certain clubs and organizations, the separation is not for pride or arrogance’s sake, but for the sake of love, goodness, and holiness. Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab were pagan lands, with pagan beliefs and practices. The Jews were a people of one God. The true God, and their beliefs and practices reflected the desires of Almighty God. The language they spoke, the food they ate, the way they: lived, dressed, and believed were in total contrast to the nations around them. They were peculiar people. Within these beliefs and practices it mandated that they could not marry “strange” women, meaning women of other nations. Marriage is an intimate relationship. It is the most intimate relationship that exists on earth between two people. When two people are grafted together, they will undoubtedly take on the characteristics of one another. It is like two fruit trees that are grafted together. The union formed in hopes of creating a better overall variety (though it does not always), but when they bear fruit, the seeds of that fruit will not reflect the parent type, how can it? The union was not ordained by God, only man. So it was, the children of these unholy unions within the Jewish nation did not reflect their parent type, i.e., God. They reflected the marriage of the church and the world. They were a lost generation, torn between the world and the church. A casualty of choice by those gone before, who loved the world. Why did they love the strange women so? Was it their exotic dress? The liberal lifestyle? The promise of extravagance? The scripture does not say, but this we know, they were lost, and their children were lost. Therefore, this action of worldly marriage was met with stern rebuke and exhortation to change. Desperately hoping for a realization of the consequences of their actions, and a resolve to hastened towards immediate reconciliation. The people of God cannot expect to be intimate with the world and there not be consequences. The Apostle Peter tells us that sanctified people are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. When the Holy Ghost convicts you, forgives you, and sanctifies you; he calls you out of the world. You cannot love what they love, go where they go, and worship what they worship (i.e., lust of flesh, of the eyes, and pride of life). When you become filled with all the fullness of God, your heart cleansed from all sin, and you are called to daily walk in the light. What draws you, excites you, occupies you, and affects you is a direct reflection on what lives within you. A product of what you have wed yourself too. The fruit of your union is the conversation of your life.
If the only Christianity that the generation coming behind us sees, is one that is married to the world; then they will see no Christianity. What is worse, if the only Christianity that the generation behind them sees, is one predicated on the worldliness they saw in us; then that generation will think that is Christianity. This is the consequence of a worldly marriage.
