Poison Apples
Haggai 2:13
One of the major problems with the claims
of the evolutionary hypothesis is that corruption is a one-way street. Creation
is not improving … it is wearing down. We have no evidence of evolution
anywhere in the recorded history of mankind; yet, it is projected back beyond
where records were kept. Things are worsening, not improving. Decay and erosion
are winning. A barrel of healthy apples are jeopardized by the presence of one
bad apple. That is a simple law of this fallen creation.
The Scriptures teach us to take the gospel
into the world, but to stay clean in the process. At the same time, we are
called to "… come out from their midst and be separate. And do not touch
what is unclean” (II Cor. 6:17). How do we separate ourselves and enter into a
fallen world all at the same time? How
do you walk in the mud of this fallen world and remain clean. How do you touch
and not touch at the same time?
Today, we face one of the great dilemmas
of the Christian faith. Haggai addresses God’s people for the last time and
exposes their sin. They have returned from a foreign land. They have been in
bondage, and even though they are back home, the bondage of sin has returned
with them.
In our pursuit of help for this difficult
issue of life, we must not miss the wonder of the text before us. The wonder of
the message before us is to be found in the simple question, “Is the seed still
in the barn?” (v.19) For God’s child, the answer is a forever “yes!” There is
always seed in the barn. The agrarian mind recognizes the potential power in
the question. If there is seed in the barn, then there is hope for tomorrow.
The seed establishes hope. The seed can be planted. The seed can be
watered. The seed can produce crop. The seed ultimately brings a hope of
harvest. If you and I will set our heart on the Lord, if we will turn from our
selfish ways, if we will surrender our will to His, then we can be certain that
there will always be seed in the barn.
The seed indicates work ahead. The seed reminds us that much time is yet necessary before the harvest. The seed’s presence produces peace, but not without responsibility. The seed must be protected from corruption. Centuries later, the apostle Paul will remind the Corinthians: “Bad company corrupts good morals (I Cor. 15:33).
Good cannot be transferred. Bad transfers
quickly and easily. An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but a bad apple
will spoil the barrel. The second most important decision that anyone makes is
their choice of friends. The litmus test for friendship should be conduct, not
conversation. Individuals who do not honor God with their conduct are poison
apples in the barrel of personal holiness.
Poison
Apples
Haggai
2:13
INTRODUCTION
The Questions
from Haggai
1:4
1:9
2:3
2:12
2:13
2:19
INSTRUCTION
The Principle of Scripture
The Practice of individuals
The Potential of cleansing
CONCLUSION
Principles of
staying clean
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.