They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4: 5 - 6 NKJV
There are more than a few things about Christian living that I still am trying to comprehend. The apostle Paul's "Mystery among the Gentiles" being one of those {Colossians 1:27}. Why bad things happen to good people is another. This week I was reminded of another aspect of Christian living that all too often we fail to adhere to (I use the wording "adhere" in the aspect of the traditional institutional church theology). That being, those believers who live the ways of the world. The apostle John was quick to warn us of the ways of the world in 1 John 4. John tells us that those who follow the worlds guidelines "Do not hear us" {1 John 4:6}. We can assume that the apostle meant that those who are of the world will not listen to those of us who speak the truth of the gospel of Christ. Anyone know someone that fits that bill? I've known more than my share of people who dabble in the perceived glories of worldly ways. I myself have known the fleeting joys of the worlds pleasures. Does that make me one who does not know God? Not at all. Can a believer momentarily slide into the pleasures of the world without doing extensive damage to their souls or salvation? Yes. Before you accuse me of heresy, again, recall that our own salvation is not something which is won or lost on the basis of our behavior, but on our belief in Christ Jesus {Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9}. Simply put, our salvation is a free gift from God. If we believe in our hearts that God has raised Jesus from the dead, and confess Jesus as Lord, we are saved. Now, does this assurance give us a get out of jail free card to behave any way we want? As Paul tells us..."By no means" {Romans 6:15}. Shall we continue to worry about sin? No. Again, Paul assures us that through Christ Jesus we are dead to sin {Romans 6:11}. So, if our salvation is assured and we are now dead to sin, how treacherous are those ways of the world to a believer?
"That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that you sent Me."
John 17: 21 NKJV
When I say that I have dabbled in the ways of the world, I'm referring to the simple pleasures that many find so attractive. Alcohol, women, money...the list goes on and on. Yet, through all of the ways of the world I have delved into, not once has God turned His back to me. If He were to do so, then He would make Himself a liar, and God doesn't play that way. Most believers agree that Paul is one of the most influential speakers of the gospel of Christ that ever lived. Yet, he was not always like that. Many believers also know Paul's history as the man Saul, who was brought to his knees in blindness on that road to Damascus. Despite the wickedness of Saul, God chose to redeem him. I would say that God had always been with Saul, but that Saul simply was unaware of it. So it was that at Gods chosen moment, Saul was dead and Paul was born {Galatians 1:15-16}. What shall we say of King David, who dabbled in the ways of the world and bore a son with another mans wife? Once again, Gods mercy ruled the day. So, should we accept as true the accusatory fingers pointed at us when we dwell in the behaviors of the world? Absolutely not! We trust and know the Lords promise of redemption to be true. We also know and accept the mystery among the Gentiles which promises us the knowing of our one true identity in Christ Jesus {Galatians 2:20}. The bigger question is, should we be at all concerned with being in the ways of the world? Or, should we realize how God Himself feels when we do so?
"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
Luke 15: 20 - 24 NKJV
~Scott~
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