I was watching television last night and saw a piece about a man who discovered an uninhabited island. He was excited about it and wanted to colonize it and create his own utopia there. He was disgusted with all the violence, hatred, and incivility going on in the world and wanted to create a small colony of people who shared everything with no weapons or violence or strife; a mini heaven if you will. There would be no ruler or king, or politicians and the people would just make decisions together and share what they had with each other. As one might imagine things did not go as planned and soon it became obvious that one man had designs upon becoming the supreme leader. The quest for power knew no bounds and he caused friction that eventually led to violence and even murder. The founder of the colony was heartbroken as he watched his little paradise crumble and disband.
As I thought about this my mind wandered to our upcoming election and all the desperate people trying to gain power. They lie and cheat, bribe and patronize and in some cases I suspect kill to gain power. Ruining someone’s reputation and life is big business and firms are hired to dig up dirt on anyone. If they cannot find anything they just make it up. Of course, every nation on earth is in the same boat. Communist countries like China, Russia, Venezuela, and Iran don’t even try to hide it aside from some cursory propaganda about fake elections.
The people of Israel were initially led by God, and He cared for them. It should have been an idyllic scenario, but the people demanded their own king. Can you imagine” Here they were being led and fed by God Himself after being rescued from slavery and tyrants and yet they wanted/demanded a fleshly king. It was the beginning of ruination for their civilization.
The Bible makes clear that we (believers) do not belong in this world. Philippians 3:20: But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…So I suppose the song, We are the world, doesn’t really apply to us huh?. The world and its evil system are not home for us and is reminiscent of living in a foreign dangerous place. In fact, the Bible spells it out for us in John 15:19: If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. If you are concerned about being hated, Jesus said not to sweat the small stuff, it hated Him more than anyone.
When we read of the “world” in the New Testament, we are reading the Greek word cosmos. Cosmos most often refers to the inhabited earth and the people who live on the earth, which functions apart from God. Satan is the ruler of this “cosmos”. John 12:31 – Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. By the simple definition that the word world refers to a world system ruled by Satan, we can more readily appreciate Christ’s claims that believers are no longer of the world—we are no longer ruled by sin, nor are we bound by the principles of the world. In addition, we are being changed into the image of Christ, causing our interest in the things of the world to become less and less as we mature in Christ.
Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values. As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ. This is a daily activity and commitment.
We must also understand that being in the world, but not of it, is necessary if we are to be a light to those who are in spiritual darkness. We are to live in such a way that those outside the faith see our good deeds and our manner and know that there is something “different” about us. Christians who make every effort to live, think and act like those who do not know Christ do Him a great disservice. Even the worst of sinners knows that “by their fruits you shall know them,” and as Christians, we should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit within us.
Being “in” the world also means we can enjoy the things of the world, such as the beautiful creation God has given us, but we are not to immerse ourselves in what the world values, nor are we to chase after worldly pleasures. Pleasure is no longer our calling in life, as it once was, but rather the worship of God. Don’t let this old world get you down especially at election time. I would rather keep up with what is happening in my own abode heaven. But we have a job to do and witnessing to others is our purpose.
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!