Holiness Is More Precious Than Life

Hebrews 12:4 - In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Though we do not know the proper context, the author raises a complaint  that the Hebrew people would have deviated from God’s will, compromised in some areas and did not resist to the point of giving away  their own lives.

You may have heard of the ermine which has the unique ability to change the colour of their fur to match different seasonal environments. Switching from brown to white in winter, then back again to brown in spring, this animal specialises in surviving by blending into both landscapes. The ermine would rather die than soil its pure white coat. For this very reason, it's easy to hunt down an ermine - grime would be placed at the entrance to its shelter and trained dogs will be let out to chase the ermine; and when it reaches its hide-out, only to find the dirt laid at its entrance by the hunters, it would not take a step further ahead in order to protect its fur even though it’s life is at danger. In that way, the dogs get hold of the ermine and attack it. That’s what I’m reminded of when the author of the epistle talks about resisting sin to the point of giving away one’s life - we being children of God should choose to live in God’s holiness and grace even though we live in a world where there’s every opportunity to indulge in sin. 

Genesis 4:6,7 - Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  

Joseph spent the best years of his life in prison due to the false accusation made by Potiphar’s wife. He was well built and handsome, and Potiphar’s wife took notice of him and said to him, ‘Come to bed with me’. Though she spoke to him day after day, Joseph refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. And one day, when nobody was there, when she caught him by his cloak and asked him to sleep with her, he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. 
How would it have been if we were in Joseph’s place? Joseph’s life would have been protected by Potiphar’s wife, had he agreed to sleep with her, but he refused to do such a wicked thing and sin against God.

Daniel and his companions refused to eat the food offered from the king’s table and to pray to any human or any god, but the True and Living God. 

God’s Word is beyond time. We have to wage war against sin and temptations, and live right in the eyes of God. 

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Righteousness is righteousness and wickedness is wickedness. Doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t associate with unbelievers. The children of God/ the children of light should not have an inseparable relationship with a person living in darkness. For example, an affair between a boy and girl in which one person is saved and the other is not - they’re trying to have fellowship between light and darkness. That is too  dangerous. 

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Jesus was seen among sinners and was called ‘friend of sinners’, but he overcame the power of sin and death leading a holy and righteous life on Earth; and we are called to follow His example.

1 Peter 2:21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

The doctrine of separation: We should keep a safe distance from unbelievers. At the same time, we should associate with them with an intention of winning them over to the Savior. It’s okay to associate with sinners, but not with sin.