Swimming Upstream on a Downstream Course: Living Contrary to the Ways of the World

As believers we are to live contrary to the ways of this world. We live among many whose course goes in a different direction but our course takes us heavenward as we are led by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. And our course draws us nearer and nearer to God, Who is the fountain and fullness of all blessing. Paul tells us this great Truth in Philippians 3:18-21 (NIV): “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” One fine day, all will be made pristinely clear. Further, Paul tells us in Philippians as well that our duty is to “shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” Our desire is to become “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.”

This is obviously easier stated than done, Amen? It is much simpler to blend with the world rather than stand out against it. Yet, we are not called to anything that our Lord Jesus did not already walk through, Who, Scripture states in Isaiah 53:3 (NIV): “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” He did not have to, but He willingly chose to - for me, for you.  

All that our world offers and promises never fully satisfies the human soul. They were never meant to. When we achieve or receive the whatever, we are still found wanting. This is true for everything. Everything. Yet, drawing nearer and nearer to Jesus we discover our supreme good – the fullness of Him Who fills everything in every way. He who created the human soul is the only One who can fully satisfy the human soul. He can make beauty out of our ashes and the oil of gladness in lieu of our mourning and a garment of praise in instead of our spirit of despair. Nothing is too hard for Him. And remember that the nearer anything is to the Object or Principle of something that is so amazingly favorable and wonderful, the better off they are. As we walk close to the Master, the worldly desires begin to dissipate. Remember, this world is passing away but the one who does the will of God lives forever.