the world – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

Why we cannot follow this world

We live in a time when we as Christians are urged to follow the thinking of the world, particularly when it comes to moral issues.

We are urged to compromise on what the Bible teaches and to get on “the right side of history.”

But that is something we dare not do.

Why?

Look at how Paul describes this world.

Their thoughts are futile. (Ephesians 4:17)

They have hearts hardened and calloused against God.

Because of that, their understanding has become darkened and they are excluded from the life of God. (18-19)

They are deceived by their own desires. They actually think that what is evil in God’s sight is good. They actually celebrate what God calls evil.

The result? Their lives have become corrupted, and they are headed for destruction. (22)

And so Paul charges us: “Don’t be like them.”

Rather, we must put off their way of thinking and put on our new self, “one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” (24)

So when you are tempted to bend the teaching of Scripture to match the teaching of this world, remind yourself of the true situation of the people of this world.

Pray for them.

Be light to them.

But do not be like them.

Rather be like our Savior, who loves us and gave his life on a cross so that we might find true life.

Clinging to what we shouldn’t

As I read the first few words of this chapter, these words struck me.

The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. (Joshua 7:1)

It says here that the Israelites were unfaithful. How? Because of how they dealt with things set apart for destruction.

Now in context, the meaning is that God had told the Israelites to destroy all the people of Jericho and all the things in it, except for the silver, gold, iron, and bronze things which were to be given to the Lord’s treasury. (Joshua 6:17-19)

And in this story, a man named Achan was unfaithful to the Lord in that he took some beautiful and valuable things for himself.

But how often do we as Christians cling to that which God has determined should be destroyed in our lives, namely sin?

Like Achan (and for that matter, Eve back in the garden of Eden), we see, we covet, and then we take for ourselves that which God has forbidden. As a result, not only do we bring trouble upon ourselves, we bring trouble on those around us as well.

God was very severe in his judgment toward Achan. There was no mincing of words. He said,

“They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings.” (Joshua 7:11)

God says the same thing when we cling to our sin, claiming rights to sin that we do not have.

And God warns,

I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you what is set apart. (12)

In short, God will not be mocked. If we cling to our sin, he will withdraw his presence from us. He will not answer our prayers. He will not bless us. And we will pay the price for our sin.

Some of you may ask, “Are you saying you can lose your salvation?”

Here’s what I’m saying. God will discipline his children until they repent. You don’t lose your status as God’s children because of sin, but you will be under his discipline until you repent. And that is a miserable thing.

But if you can willfully stand in rebellion against God, clinging to what is to be destroyed in your life, I would strongly question whether you are God’s child at all.

So would Jesus (Matthew 7:21-23, John 8:34-47).

So would his apostles (James 2:18-26, I John 2:3-5, 3:4-10; Romans 8:1-14, 1 Peter 1:13-23).

So let us listen to the words of John who said,

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 everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.

And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:15-17)