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NOT OF THIS WORLD

Matthew 12:25, 30, 33-34
10-25-09

Purpose: To emphasize the need for a sincere spiritual commitment.

    There are many science-fiction movies about aliens from other planets.  There are many ancient legends about supermen from strange kingdoms.  There are many myths about heroes from divine realms.  Now, these tales persist because each of us longs for such power and immortality.  But, there is one true story about other worlds:  Jesus said his followers are not of this world at all.  “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16).

    As Christians, we must walk in the world, but yet not be negatively influenced by the world.  Jesus prayed, “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15).

        This brings us to the problem of the two worlds:  You see, if we’re so “heavenly minded” that we’re no “earthly good,” then we’ve failed as human beings.  But, on the other hand, if we’re so “earthly minded,” that we’re “no heavenly good,” then, we’ve failed as spiritual beings.  Every Christian faces this situation.  If we’re in the world, but not of it, this presents us with a real dilemma.  What can we do about it?

    I.  FIRST, SOME PEOPLE COMPARTMENTALIZE

    This means they operate in parts.  They’re religious at church, but immoral at work and play.  They become hypocrites.  Jesus was adamant about such divided loyalties.  He said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and possessions” (Matt. 6:24).

    He knew we can’t separate ourselves into little pieces.  When it comes to spiritual commitment, you can’t “sit on the fence.”  You can’t keep one foot on the floor and one foot on the escalator.  You can’t keep one foot on the shore and one foot on a boat going out to sea.  In such cases, there’s a limit as to how far you can stretch.  Sooner or later, you must choose or be split in two.

    It’s the same in Christianity.  You must choose.  Elijah said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him . . .” (I Kings 18:21);

    Jesus said “Any house divided against itself shall not stand"  (Matt. 12:25);

    James said, “You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world] and breaking your marriage vow to God!  Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy?  So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. " (James 4:4, amp).

    Trying to have it both ways won’t work.  During the Civil War, a frightened soldier deserted.  He put on the blue coat of the Union army and the gray pants of the Confederate army, and started running.  Later his body was found riddled with bullets from both sides.  Likewise, when we “desert” the cause of Christ and try to have it both ways, we lose it all.

    Suppose there are two paths through a forest.  Can we travel on both at once?  Can we say, “Well, I’ll let my legs follow that path and my arms follow this path?”  Of course not!  It’s impossible!

    Compartmentalizing destroys us and our effectiveness.

    II.  NEXT, SOME PEOPLE VACILLATE.

    This means they are pulled back and forth.  They change from day to day.  They are religious on Sunday, but immoral on Monday.

    Again, this is impossible.  Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me . . .” (Matt. 12:30).

    Over and over, Jesus says, you can’t be good and do bad; you can’t be bad and do good.  “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit . . .” (Matt. 12:33-34).  A tree doesn’t have nourishing apples today and poisonous fruits tomorrow.  It’s the same all the time.

    Paul said, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2);

    He compares our cause with a military commitment.  “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life . . .” (II Tim. 2:4).

    A soldier is dedicated to just one thing.  It must be the same with us.

    When Admiral Peary was exploring the North Pole, he started out early one morning with his dog team to drive north.  At the end of the day, he took a bearing on his latitude and found that he was further south than he had been in the morning!  He was baffled until he discovered that he was on a gigantic ice floe that was being pulled toward the south faster than his dog team could pull him toward the north.  Likewise, when we’re pulled back and forth between heaven and earth, we make absolutely no spiritual progress.

    Let’s consider those two paths through the forest again.  Can we follow one for a while and then follow the other one for a while?  In short, can we keep switching back and forth?  Of course we can’t if we want to get anywhere!
    Vacillating destroys us and our effectiveness.

    III.  FINALLY, SOME PEOPLE COMPROMISE.

    This means they seek a safe middle ground on every issue.  Again, this is impossible.  Being half-hearted is not an option in God’s kingdom.  The Scripture says, “Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Rev. 3:16).

    Paul said, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . . .” (Rom. 12:2).

    A Hindu magazine recently published an article, arguing that “Christianity is the cheapest religion in the world.  Here in this country, we give all for our religion and often keep ourselves poor in doing so.  But, in America there are millions of professing Christians who spend more for cigarettes and lipstick than they do for God.  They spend more on entertainment than they do for the advancement of the faith they profess.  Furthermore, they seldom attend worship services and they do what they please every day.”

    It is an alarming indictment of our sincerity, when heathens can point to our faith and say, “It’s the cheapest religion in the world.”  That’s a far cry from the gospel Jesus preached.  Jesus said it costs!  “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matt. 13:45-46).

    John 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.  These are the evil things in the world . . . wanting the sinful things we see . . . everything that people want in the world is passing away . . .” (I John 2:15-17).

    He meant that we’re not to invest all of our time and talents and resources in the material aspects of this world.  Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).

    Some things are completely worthless as half-way projects.  You can’t paint half a picture or have half a marriage or raise half a child.  These are all or nothing entities.  Likewise, when we try to make half a commitment, and become half a Christian, we dilute our witness and diminish our joy.

    Let’s analyze our two paths once more.  Can we follow a mid course by going half-way between the two paths?  Well we can, but then we’ll have no clear road at all.  We’ll be fighting our way through a thicket!

    Compromising destroys us and our effectiveness.

    Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).  Even so, we are not of this world.  We are in this world, but not of it!  A man said, “Once I stood in the prison yard of a large penitentiary.  Sixteen-foot concrete walls enclosed the area.  At each corner, armed guards were stationed to survey the movement of every prisoner.  I felt despair as I thought of the oppressive confinement.  Just then, I saw a pair of doves that had been pecking on the ground.  Suddenly they looked up and took flight over the walls to freedom.  You see, they were in the prison, but not of it.  Prison walls could not hold these birds because they could look up and rise above them.  It’s the same with us.

    John said, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith” (I John 4:4; and 5:4).

    Whales live in the ocean among the fish, but unlike the fish, they must come up for air regularly in order to survive.  Likewise, Christians live on earth among imperfect situations and they must come up into the Spiritual realm regularly in order to survive.

    Once, a large student walked up to the football coach and told him that he wanted to play football.  The coach was thrilled and said, “Son, I’m so glad you want to play.  We sure need a player of your size.  If you’ll come to practice tomorrow I’ll give you a chance to join the team.

    For the next three days, the coach anxiously watched for the young man, but he never showed up.  About a week later, the student again came to the coach and said, “Coach, I sure love football and I really want to be on the team.”  The coach said, “I’m glad to hear that, but if you want to play ball, you must come to practice.”  The young man again assured the coach he would be there the next day.

    A week passed by and the young man saw the coach walking at a distance and yelled to get his attention.  But the coach just kept walking.  The young man caught up with the coach and started to give him the all too familiar speech.  As the boy proclaimed his desire to play, the coach suddenly interrupted him with these words: “No son, you really don’t want to play football.  The truth is, you had rather do other things than pay the price to be on the team.  When you say you want to play, yet you won’t come to practice, you are just kidding yourself.”

    It’s the same with Christians.  God wants sincere, dedicated followers.  If you profess without paying the price, you are just kidding yourself.  As Christians we must have different interests and different priorities.  So don’t compartmentalize.  Don’t vacillate!  Don’t compromise.  As Christians we are God’s representatives here on earth.  We are God’s agents here on earth. We are God’s ambassadors here on earth.

    We are salt in a tasteless world.  We are lights in a dark world.  We must be committed in all places and at all times.  We are in this world, but not of it.
(WC1906)


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Copyrighted 2009 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS MESSAGE IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works. 

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Miles E Wesner