What We Now Must Become - 1 John 2:15-16

   
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. - 1 John 2:15-16

    With all the ridiculous ‘challenges’ we have seen appear on social media lately, perhaps a Godly challenge is due. Here is the challenge: let us take a good long hard look at the world around us today. From the music (and I use the term loosely) to the movies to the magazines, radio stations, cable programming (especially among the subscription giants, HBO, Showtime, etc.), fashions, trends, news, and technology; even the ads and commercials are now laden with homosexuals and LGBTQ adherents. There is actually no perversion under the sky that is not available for viewing through our technologically savvy 4K high definition world. Is there, in any sense of the word, anything that is ‘Godly’? Sadly, the answer is ‘No!’ “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” - 2 Corinthians 4:4.
    Professing Christians are often guilty of the very sins they should not have any part of. They spend an hour in the presence of God on Sunday, then are right back to the business and entertainment of the world. Most times it is hard to tell the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever at all. In fact, we are told to avoid the type of people we ourselves have become!  “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”  - 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
    We have repeatedly been warned about the ways of the world yet we stumble through our lives consistently sinning like the unbelievers around us. We follow their leads like the blind being led by the blind. We employ their language, their smugness, their anger, their ungodliness until we are virtually indistinguishable among them. All this we have become rather than developing into the Christians we should be.
    We were called to be the light in the world. Not only are we to be the light of the world but we have also been told ‘why’ we are to be that light. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16. Once again, we are called to be the light in the world so that unbelievers will see that our Christian words and deeds give glory to God in heaven. We cannot accomplish that Godly mission if we behave like the world. The world should recognize us for who we truly are in Christ Jesus and see that we are not like them. “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 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.” - John 15:18-19.
    Our duration here as Christians should not be a day in the park. Tribulations should be our lot, not worldly enjoyment. Our duty here is clear. “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
    We must not be worldly by any definition. As Christians, we must conduct ourselves in a sober and Godly manner rather than as citizens of this fallen world. We must remember that we are ‘in the world but not of it’ and recall the words of the Apostle Paul - “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:1-2. No matter what we were in the world before we became believers, the light of the world is what we now must become.