As a Christian, how do you live in this world?
You are constantly surrounded by the influences of the world. How are you to be lifted up above them?
The ascetic says - "Turn your back upon the world." The cynic says - "Despise it. Be indifferent to all considerations of pain and pleasure." (Great Texts of the Bible) But what does the Bible say?
In this message, let's look at our world as the Bible sees it and find out the Scriptural answer to this "question of questions" that is facing each and every Christian today.
In Titus 2:12, the Apostle Paul referred to it as - "this present world." In Galatians 1:4, he added - "this present evil world."
When talking about the "world," he was not referring to the material world - that which was created by God. He was talking about the world's system or course - the present age - which opposes the glory of God and is under the authority of the Evil one. He was talking about the current of its affairs as corrupted by sin... the existing state of things, where sin and death reign... the place where the devil is its god and sin is its prevailing character...and the totality of tendencies which oppose themselves to God - made up of "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." (1 John 2:16)
In using these particular descriptive terms - "this present evil world" - he depicted it as being without Christianity - a "realm" of bad passions, false opinions, and corrupt desires. He also described it as being full of ambition, the love of pleasure, and gold...a place where God is not loved nor obeyed - where people are regardless of right, truth, and duty...and live for themselves and not for God.
"This present world" is hostile, wicked and evil. It is "evil" because it is rebellious, corrupting, and doomed - whle apostatizing from the service of its rightful Maker.
Knowing this, in John 17:15, the Lord Jesus specifically prayed to the Father for all believers - "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil."
He fully understood the "evil" that was prevalent in "this present evil world." He knew that it was very abhorrent, pernicious, and powerful. He was fully aware of the danger the saints were in by it. He was also fully aware of their incapacity to keep themselves from it. That is why He specifically prayed for God's keeping power for them.
"Father...keep them from the evil."
No doubt He was referring to the devil himself - who is eminently, originally, and immutably so - and is regarded as dominating the realm, atmosphere, spirit, and kingdom of this world. But He was also referring to "evil" in general - including apostasy ... sinking in temptation ... the dominion of sin ... wickedness and lusts ... and evil men.
"Father...keep them from the evil" - the evil one, evil thing, evil principle, power, and influence.
Besides the Apostle Paul and the Lord Jesus, the Apostle John also made mention of "this present world."
In 1 John 5:19, he said - "...and the whole world lieth in wickedness."
He was saying that all sinners of every grade and kind are embraced in the arms of the devil - where they are lying fast asleep and carnally secure. They are under his dominion and control. They have him for a father and bear his image. Their systems, customs, and institutions are completely molded by him.
"...the whole world lieth..." They recline or are situated in this passive or lethargic state. They acquiesce in the devil's reign and make no resistance or effort to throw it off.
"...and the whole world lieth in wickedness."
John was describing a people whose actions are opposed to the law of God ... their conversations are false ... their contracts are deceitful ... their quarrels are ridiculous ... and their friendships are hollow, insincere, and fickle. They are under a "blanket" of spiritual darkness - making them destitute of every principle of holiness or of the Spirit of God. Their lives and lifestyles are wholly corrupted - for sin is in them in its full strength and vigor - ruling and commanding all.
At this point, it is easy to infer that "this present evil world" is an infectious and ensnaring society - consisting of a people without God and under the dominion of Satan.
Knowing this, as a Christian, how do you live in this world?
You are constantly surrounded by the influences of the world. How are you to be lifted up above them?
We believe that the answer to this "question of questions" can be found in Philippians 1:21 where Paul said outrightly - "For to me to live is Christ..."
How do you live in "this present evil world"?
Paul answered that by stating - "To me..." Not "in my judgment" or "in my case."
No, he stated - "To me personally" - even if I have to stand alone and have no one else to consider this but myself. "To me" - this is how I live "in this present evil world."
And to all Christians he was saying - "This is how you are to live 'in this present evil world.' "
Clearly stated - Live as Christ's property and servant. Make Him your portion and the matter and object of your life. In other words, that on which you live. Consider Him as the efficient cause and author of your spiritual life - being then maintained and supported by feeding on Him as "the bread of life."
Let your sole aim in living and single purpose of your soul be to glorify Christ. Don't be like those whose sole aim is honor, learning, gold, or pleasure.
To Paul, the ruling passion, motive, mainspring, and end of his life was found in Christ. Whatever life, time, and strength he had was Christ's. His energy, activity, occupation, and interest was all Christ.
Hence, selfishness was starved out in his life. It had nothing to subsist on. Everything that could not be directed to Christ was set aside as useless and irrelevant. What was left was a complete, unreserved consecration to Him.
Read what the Great Texts of the Bible had to offer in response - "There were two outstanding characters residing in Rome at the time of St. Paul's imprisonment. There were Nero, the Emperor, and Seneca, the philosopher. What is Nero's conception of life? To live, to him, is to be as unbridled as a wild beast in pleasure and passion and revelry...What is Seneca's conception of life? 'Life,' says he, 'is to enjoy oneself in the realm of ideas - to think, to learn, to master the laws of Nature and make the mind the master of the man.' The answer of Seneca is as far as the East is from the West from Nero's conception of life, and as great in value and superiority...But Seneca's answer is too vague and too negative and abstract...What is Paul's conception of life? 'Life,' answers Paul, 'is to reproduce Jesus Christ in character, by thought, word, and deed. Life is to preach Christ; to cross mountains and seas, to magnify Christ in a prison. In a word, life to me is Christ - Christ equals life, and life equals Christ."
Like Nero and Seneca, there are those today who are taking extremes and combining them and calling it "life!"
For instance, there are those Christians living in this "present evil world" who are saying - "For me to live is money!" They combine "me" and "money" and describe the union as "life." Others are saying - "For me to live is pleasure!" They combine "me" and "pleasure" and describe the union as "life." And then there are those who declare - "For me to live is fame" - combining "me" and "fame" and calling the union - "life!"
But, Paul in sharp contrast, responds - No! this is life! This is how you live in this "present evil world." Make Jesus your ruling passion!
You ask - How shall I live in this "present evil world"?
Set aside everything as useless and impertinent which cannot be directed to Christ.
"It is the question of questions - how to live in this world, with what spirit, and for what end."
Paul gives you the answer - Starve out selfishness by making Jesus the supreme end of your life.
In this way, you will be "kept from the evil" and Jesus' prayer to the Father will be answered - "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil."
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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