Be Not Conformed to this World

It is something that has grieved me for many years, the fact that there is so much of the world in the church! I have seen firsthand that a great many of God’s people act no different from the world in any way other than attending church services from time to time. They go to the same places, tell the same jokes, read the same novels, watch the same movies and television programs, listen to the same music, use the same vulgar language and think on the same things as those who are in the world. The only difference is that one claims Christ and the other does not.

And the interesting part is that many of these folks don’t even realize that they are worldly, and would even argue the point if they were ever confronted with it.

My friends, is this you?

The Holy Spirit will let you know the answer to that question if you will humbly ask Him, because we are assured that He will guide us into all truth. John 16:13

Don’t fall into the trap of wanting to straddle the fence and live a double life — hobnobbing with the world while also living for Jesus — because, in all honesty, it is not possible. If you straddle the fence, you are not on the Lord’s side at all. You are on the world’s side, and have made yourself an enemy of God. “. . . Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4

The above passage is not speaking of being kind toward those who are in the world and in need of Christ — it is speaking of having a fondness and an affection for worldly things. God is saying that if you have a fondness for the things of this world and its lusts, you are showing yourself to be an enemy of God, the very one whom you say you love.

Now, we either love God or we don’t, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh, gave us the measuring stick with which to determine our position in John 14:15-24 when He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments ….” and “…. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ….”

If you claim Jesus Christ as your Lord, then I exhort you to put off all worldliness and give yourselves completely over to the Lord Jesus Christ, holding nothing back — and do it now. “…. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

Let us not give the world occasion to discredit us or the One whom we serve because of our actions and our worldly lifestyle, but rather, let us give them reason to glorify our Father in heaven. “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 20:7. In other words, “You belong to Me — act like it!”

Amen. God help us so to do.