"And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2.
This thought has been weighing on my mind for a long time, and made even heavier ever since I entered the army. It can be summed up in what someone once said to us in JC, "You all are economic assets to the country... is that a problem"? Why is it that we are being ruled by the world, and not vice versa? I keep getting the vision of massive tides of people, being swayed to and fro on the face of time, much like some of those rides we see in theme parks. We see the problem everywhere- people are living for money, organizations, power, and are content to let these things decide their goals and values for them. A very good example is scholarships- big, rich organizations like the government and the army promise a hugely successful and comfortable life, if people would be willing to submit to them and serve their visions and goals. The army, especially. There is a certain way you are expected to conduct yourself, certain values that you must adhere to, and if you screw up in anyway, you are punished. There is little room for deviance or non-compliance. And the sad thing is that people have become used to and content with this kind of life. Why not? I don't have to believe in anything, I'll just do what they want me to do, and they'll provide all the comforts I want. Going with the flow, so to speak.
But why should we become the world's assets? Why should we let the world decide for us what we believe in? The world did not create us, God did! The world has no claim on our hearts and minds, only Jesus does. Jesus is our true Lord. And God who created us has a purpose for us- the above verse sums it up. We are living for God, not for the world. The world is in a very sad state today. Helpless masses are swayed and moved by higher authorities that make decisions based on power and economic need. Those who have an interest in international relations and politics would realise that this is true. There is no absolute right or wrong cause, everything is in a grey area. Love for fellow man is nowhere to be found. All this has happened because the world is estranged from God's purpose and gone on to seek its own; it does not know, or has chosen to ignore, the calling that the true King, has for each and every one of us.
Never underestimate the importance of this purpose God has for us- it is not an option, it is a command. But it is not a command that we need be afraid of, or one that is difficult to obey. Recognise that Jesus is the true sovereign King of this world and our lives, and remember the price that He paid that we may know Him and be part of His purpose. Everything we do is a wholehearted response to his magnificent love.
It would be too idealistic to say that we as Christians are here to change the way the world works. It is too late for that, it would not be possible, and that was never what God had in mind. "I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine." John 17: 9. His Kingdom is not here on earth. Which is why Jesus told His disciples, "You are not of this world". But as Christians our fundamental purpose must be different. Our sole purpose must be to glorify our Heavenly Father and be a beacon of His light and love. God will lead some of us on to Christian environments, some to secular environments. But no matter where we are, we must recognise that we are living for a higher goal, a higher calling. And what happens when the world tells us to do something that is against our faith? Will we be willing to stand up for God and glorify Him? This is a question we must all ask ourselves.
Some of us are or have been soldiers in the army, but all of us are soldiers for God. We are fighting for Him. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may praise him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 2 Tim 2: 3-4. Forget and let go of the things of this world, and your desire for them, for they are but trappings. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2. One day this world will pass away, leaving nothing behind. And the new kingdom of God will come in glory and majesty. I sincerely pray that on that day all of us will be able to hold the banners of the Cross high before His throne, and say that we have served the true King.
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." 1 John 2:17
"Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity... Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12: 8,13
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." Ephesians 4: 1-2.
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Philippians 3:8.
This thought has been weighing on my mind for a long time, and made even heavier ever since I entered the army. It can be summed up in what someone once said to us in JC, "You all are economic assets to the country... is that a problem"? Why is it that we are being ruled by the world, and not vice versa? I keep getting the vision of massive tides of people, being swayed to and fro on the face of time, much like some of those rides we see in theme parks. We see the problem everywhere- people are living for money, organizations, power, and are content to let these things decide their goals and values for them. A very good example is scholarships- big, rich organizations like the government and the army promise a hugely successful and comfortable life, if people would be willing to submit to them and serve their visions and goals. The army, especially. There is a certain way you are expected to conduct yourself, certain values that you must adhere to, and if you screw up in anyway, you are punished. There is little room for deviance or non-compliance. And the sad thing is that people have become used to and content with this kind of life. Why not? I don't have to believe in anything, I'll just do what they want me to do, and they'll provide all the comforts I want. Going with the flow, so to speak.
But why should we become the world's assets? Why should we let the world decide for us what we believe in? The world did not create us, God did! The world has no claim on our hearts and minds, only Jesus does. Jesus is our true Lord. And God who created us has a purpose for us- the above verse sums it up. We are living for God, not for the world. The world is in a very sad state today. Helpless masses are swayed and moved by higher authorities that make decisions based on power and economic need. Those who have an interest in international relations and politics would realise that this is true. There is no absolute right or wrong cause, everything is in a grey area. Love for fellow man is nowhere to be found. All this has happened because the world is estranged from God's purpose and gone on to seek its own; it does not know, or has chosen to ignore, the calling that the true King, has for each and every one of us.
Never underestimate the importance of this purpose God has for us- it is not an option, it is a command. But it is not a command that we need be afraid of, or one that is difficult to obey. Recognise that Jesus is the true sovereign King of this world and our lives, and remember the price that He paid that we may know Him and be part of His purpose. Everything we do is a wholehearted response to his magnificent love.
It would be too idealistic to say that we as Christians are here to change the way the world works. It is too late for that, it would not be possible, and that was never what God had in mind. "I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine." John 17: 9. His Kingdom is not here on earth. Which is why Jesus told His disciples, "You are not of this world". But as Christians our fundamental purpose must be different. Our sole purpose must be to glorify our Heavenly Father and be a beacon of His light and love. God will lead some of us on to Christian environments, some to secular environments. But no matter where we are, we must recognise that we are living for a higher goal, a higher calling. And what happens when the world tells us to do something that is against our faith? Will we be willing to stand up for God and glorify Him? This is a question we must all ask ourselves.
Some of us are or have been soldiers in the army, but all of us are soldiers for God. We are fighting for Him. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may praise him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 2 Tim 2: 3-4. Forget and let go of the things of this world, and your desire for them, for they are but trappings. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2. One day this world will pass away, leaving nothing behind. And the new kingdom of God will come in glory and majesty. I sincerely pray that on that day all of us will be able to hold the banners of the Cross high before His throne, and say that we have served the true King.
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." 1 John 2:17
"Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity... Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12: 8,13
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." Ephesians 4: 1-2.
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Philippians 3:8.
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