10/06/2021
As Christians we profess our faith in Jesus Christ, saying that He abides in us, we abide in Him, and that we walk with Him every day, but if we truly believe, and walk with Him,then how can some of us remain so firmly attached to this world? How can we be in a relationship with Jesus, who is not of this world, while maintaining our own earthly citizenship simultaneously?
“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
John 17:16 ESV
The answer to this question is that we can’t… we are either spiritual citizens, or earthly citizens, because although those of the world might tolerate dual allegiances, the Lord does not. Listen to this scripture from revelation…
““‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16 ESV
Not only does God find our inability to choose between Him, and being of the world, unacceptable, but He is a jealous God, and He tells us this Himself in very direct fashion; even saying that His name is Jealous. Listen as He emphasizes this point through the use of three scriptural references, and you will understand that there is no room for duplicity in our faithfulness.
“(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),”
Exodus 34:14 ESV
“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Exodus 20:5-6 ESV
“for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.”
Deuteronomy 6:15 ESV
So we are never to place anything equal to or above our God. If we do this then He spits us out, or in other words we are unable to love Him as we should because He is the one who gives us the very love we show Him in return.
“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 ESV
Where is this all leading us? Well, it is telling us how we are to love, believe, and have faith in God and Jesus, but ultimately it is returning us to what Jesus referred to as the great and first commandment. Listen as He answers this question for us…
““Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
Matthew 22:36-38 ESV
So when we become believers we should no longer love the things of the world, but focus our attention and love, on the divine alone… God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Today we have found the answer to three key questions regarding life, and faith. Let’s summarize them…
1.[As Christians], How is it that we can remain so firmly attached to this world? (Answer - We can’t)
2.Can we be in relationship with Jesus, who is not of this world, while maintaining our own earthly citizenship simultaneously? (Answer - No we can’t)
3.Where is this all leading us? (Answer - Back to the great first commandment, and loving God above all else.)
So if we are to believe in, have faith in, and love Jesus Christ, and we are to maintain our relationship with Him, then although He desires us to walk On the world, and deliver the gospel to all people and nations, we are never to be OF the world.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the entirety of your creation, but thank you most for placing us in it, and instilling your love in us. Thank you Lord for sending your Son Jesus to redeem us while we were yet sinners, and creatures of the world. Help us to understand how to love you completely Father, and to live with Jesus, and not be of this world. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who saves us from our sin, and restores us to righteousness. We praise you for every moment we spend in your presence, and for every evil you protect us from. You are merciful Father, and your grace made complete by your love for us. Wash us in the blood of your Son Jesus, and forgive us our sins. Keep our hearts pure, and as one with Christ’s, as we long to be with you forevermore. Judge us not for what we have done, but see in us only the excellence and perfection of Jesus. Let our sins and inadequacies be separated from us as you choose not to remember them. Call us your children, say you are pleased with us, and seat us at your table to dine on your Word for all eternity.
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”
John 17:14-24 ESV
Rich Forbes