ASSIMILATION BY ASSOCIATION

March 3, 2014 

How often have you heard the phrase, BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER?  Have you actually given any thought to the possibility of how much truth that statement holds?  Based on the strong influences of people, places and things within our environment and the impact to our mental psyche, if we are not careful, we can in deed pick up on the idiosyncrasies or the characteristics of others.  Why?  Because spirits are transferable and we, unfortunately, seem to be too quick and eager to imitate those in position of power prior to examining or questioning the character they display!  Their influence on others or their false sense of control easily seduces the flesh and stimulates our taste for success as defined by society!

Examine yourselves, 
whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. 
Know ye not your own selves, 
how that Jesus Christ is in you, 
except ye be reprobates? 

2 CORINTHIANS 13:5  (KJV) 

And yet, God reminds us repeatedly of the impact of being in the world as HE cautions us not to be of the world.  Repeatedly, we disregard HIS warnings!  We refuse to follow HIS EXAMPLE!  We make countless excuses for being human and imperfect as a justification for our actions as if that is okay!  Because, in the world, unfortunately, any and everything goes!  People make-up rules, regulations or laws only to readily break them at will (double standards) thus depending upon the demand of the greatest influences and control of those in the driver’s seat.  But, have you ever given any thought to how impressionable, naive and vulnerable children can be?  Inquisitively, children tend to observe every move, action or reaction in determining who to follow!  In essence, they learn from those within their environment; good, bad or indifferent while struggling to determine right from wrong!

Our wrongdoings pile up before you, God, our sins stand up and accuse us.

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS 

As adults, we are nothing more than children in a grown-up body trying to find our way.  Some have matured in becoming more spiritually sound than others to examine themselves in accordance to the example we are expected to follow.  At the end of each day, we should be able to look at ourselves in the mirror with objectivity in measuring our actions in ALIGNMENT with the NINE (9) FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT.  If we are truly honest with ourselves, it is possible to note what changes are necessary to move from a state of permissive will into God’s PERFECT WILL.  Although others could quite simply care less about the consequences of their actions as they seek to follow man and not God, we must be committed to be followers and doers of the WORD; taking heed to the WORD OF GOD in total submission!  Then there are many who like to push the boundaries by pretending to be followers of the LORD in doing quite the opposite when they think no one is looking or paying them any attention.  And some are quite confused and tend to straddle the fence by testing the waters on either side.  Those are the ones whose souls I have cried for the most in frustration of them being hypocrites.  The act of their arrogance surely outweighs the act of their ignorance!  Especially, when they reluctantly feel or think God is blind to it all! 

And they say, How doth God know?

and is there knowledge in the most High? 

PSALM 73:”11 

Amazingly, people seem to deliberately choose what they are willing to believe and deny even if the truth is able to set them free.  Yes, from a world view or perspective, everyone is doing his or her own thing to ensure they exceed and happily sail along to the top of the rat race.  Everything we have been exposed to all through-out our childhood has helped to dictate the way we think as adults.  In other words, that which we have encountered (the good, bad or indifferent) has contributed to who we have become.  Our experiences, as unique as they may be, can impose deep rooted pain we often carry with us like a badge of honor or sorrow.  What seems right to a man could be easily tainted by our association with others.  As CHILDREN OF GOD, we are expected to impact the atmosphere in being CHANGE AGENTS to usher in the light; not the other way around in ushering in the darkness! 

The house of the wicked shall be overthrown:

but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. 
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,

but the end thereof are the ways of death. 
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful;

and the end of that mirth is heaviness. 

~ PROVERBS 14:11-13 

WHAT IS ASSIMILATION? 

Man is always looking for excuses to justify why he cannot do the right thing.  The right thing is about being HOLY (1 Peter 1:15), righteous, and accountable for our actions.  Man is not perfect, but God most certainly is perfect in every way.  He is all knowing.  And because He knows us better than we know ourselves, He thought ahead in being proactive.  Meaning, He knew we would look for excuses or reasons not to be what He commands and expects of us.  So, He took the liberty of birthing Himself by way of Immaculate Conception through Mary and the Holy Spirit.  Then the WORD became flesh and walked amongst us on earth as JESUS CHRIST.  The ultimate example and person to imitate or seek to assimilate by way of association (cultivating a relationship)! 

Let’s take a look at a segment from a television show called Star Trek: The Next Generation which aired from 1987 to approximately 1994.  The segment, in particularly, featured a collective called the Borg.  They rarely spoke unless they chanted, “resistance is futile.”  This signified a declaration to dominate their targets by way of assimilation and void of individuality.  Can you imagine being set free (delivered) from a thing after so many years in bondage only to find that you have now allowed your association with the wrong influence(s) to lure you back to a past mindset in becoming something other than yourself?  The enemy or adversary of God roams freely to and from earth seeking whom and what he can steal, kill and destroy.  His main objective is to drive a wedge between you and God.  He will stop at nothing to use every trick to deceive you and hold you in captivity to control the very essence of you. 

God who is LOVE gives each of us the opportunity to choose (free will) in making our own determination considering who we will follow.  He does not use trickery or deceit, but is open to enlightening us to all possibilities as written out or detailed in HIS WORD (the Bible).  It is not complicated!  Should we fail to choose our company wisely, we will not be able to point blame on another because we made the decision to follow the wrong influence on the basis of our actions!  

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:   ~ 1 PETER 1:16-18