Our surroundings influence our character—this can be a good or bad thing. The Bible warns us to be careful about who and what we let into our lives, God is enough (Psalm 1:1-4.) While the travel was fun, it did have drawbacks.
I never made any good friends until after my family settled down in the south, second, I was an outsider and never fit in anywhere which didn't feel good. This contributed to me being more of a loner. Its part of the reason I’ve never felt led to settle down in the South, I know this isn’t my home.
When I started college, I began the process of fitting in with the southern culture and worldly living became my focus, it was pretty sad. Deep in my gut, I knew I was broken, but I didn’t have the courage to walk away from the world. I was a wanderer.
If left to my own devices, I would have gone too far. But, true to His word God called me back to Himself after my accident. The changes in my life since have been undeniable and miraculous.
I’ve left the partying lifestyle for over 20 years and I’ve stayed committed to God’s plan. Ironically, after spending most of my life in the South, I still don’t fit in and don’t know want to, since we are not of this world that faces extinction.
Not of This World?
After my accident I saw the light and made a covenant with God that if He healed me and allowed me to walk again, I would be committed to Him and His plans for the rest of my life; I wanted to be the man He wanted whatever it took.
I don’t have enough time to explain all of the things God has taught me since that humbling time in my life. But, you can see how God has blessed me physically and other miracles by keeping up with my Instagram page.
As I look back over the last two decades I can see how God has shaped me into the servant He wants me to be. This isn’t just for me, the church is called to be set apart for God—we live on earth, but we are not like it.
We are called to be set apart from the world to serve God, Scripture calls us royal priests (1 Peter 2:9.) Andrew Murray explains it this way, “we are members of that sickly body, and the sickness of the body will hinder us and break us down unless we come to God, and in confession, separate ourselves from partnership with worldliness, confess our coldness toward each other and give ourselves up to be entirely and wholly His. “
While we are on this earth, our flesh will crave what this world has to offer. But, the spiritual-minded person focuses on God, not this world. The early church and even the Apostle Paul struggled with this (Rom. 7:15-20,) we goin’ be alright in these hard times.
Jesus paid too high a price for us to remain slaves to this world—a price to set us free from it, not indulge in it; because we are no longer of this world, there is no need to chase that to be happy.
Before Jesus bore the agony of the cross, He told us He would prepare a place for us in His Father's house (John 14:1-4.) We don't have to fear the pandemic, economic crisis, or the senseless violence of this world, because this is not our home and one day we will leave it.
Jesus gave the decree; we will face many trials here, particularly in the last days. This is why we shouldn’t be surprised by the adversities we face now. We won’t be fully freed until we are home with Jesus.
The apostle Paul described his longing to be freed from the cares of this world, he knew to be absent from this rotting world is to be present with our Lord, it’s not goodbye.
Freed?
For the lost, death is a scary thought, for believers, it is a joyous thought, cancel the APB. The apostle Paul explained to be absent from this world is to be present with Jesus in our Heavenly Father’s house (2 Corinthians 5:1-3.)
A couple of years ago I attended the funeral of my high school sweetheart and the pastor’s message resonated with me. “While we grieve, she is rejoicing in the presence of Jesus.
Indeed she has been freed from her cancer-ridden body. As long as we wear our fleshly bodies, we are stuck in a strung out world. The apostle Paul tells us even creation groans for our eternal home (Romans 8:22-23.)
I was the primary caregiver for my parents as they battled lung cancer; I watched their earthly bodies waste away to nuthin’. My father was so ready to die he refused any treatment for his cancer.
I had a tough conversation with him before he died about whether not he knew for sure he was right with Jesus. He couldn’t talk well, but smiled and nodded his head. My last memory of him is knowing he was not of this world.