“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…,” Paul writes (Romans 12:2). Those few words have serious implications. They mean we should not strive to look physically like the world. They mean this world’s priorities should not become ours. Also, we should not adopt this world’s preoccupation with materialism.
Based upon my observations, we have already substantially violated all of the above. It’s now OK in many churches, for instance, for women to come to the house of God excessively exposing their body. Many believers are so preoccupied with their worldly concerns that they have little or no time for the Lord’s work. And some preachers are preaching a new gospel that is centered on the pursuit of financial and material gain. All of this sounds strikingly similar to the world of unbelievers.
So, can we live for God in such a self-serving world as ours? Absolutely we can. “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness,” the Bible says (2 Peter 1:3, NASB). That means God has supplied us with everything we need to live a godly life.
The Spirit of This World
Admittedly, this call to live for God is becoming increasingly more challenging these days. Let’s face it; the world can come on strong. Most of the TV shows and movies we watch glorify high-end living. There is never a shortage of slick new digital gadgets hitting the market and being marketed as the next must-have. Clothing fashions change so quickly that you can look dated if you wear the clothes you bought just two years ago. It seems as though every six months, my youngest son and grandson are talking about the newest brand of tennis shoes [the world says] they just have to have.
Sad but true, this spirit of the world also has its tentacles firmly in the Christian church today. A serious blurring of the line has occurred between today’s Christian church and the world. In many ways, it’s hard to distinguish between the two. In effect, not only are we being called to live for God in a self-serving world, but also in an increasingly worldly church environment!
The Unchanging Mandate to Live for God
From God’s perspective, nothing has changed between the time of Christ’s public ministry and today. The premise of His teachings and of the Scriptures has always been that we are called to live for God in a world that does not live for Him. That challenge today may have become more pronounced. But the premise has always been the same.
Yes, we can live for God in today’s world. But to do so, we must remain properly focused. Not on the world. Not even on the local church. But we must keep our eyes upon Jesus. God sent Him on earth to model the life we should live. And God has given us everything we need to follow His Son.
Copyright © 2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved.