I remember reading a short story in college called The Wanderer and The Wayfarer in my Old English Literature class. I was struck by the imagery. It was about how we, as Christians, are never at home on this earth. We are simply passing through.
I love how this image is of a guy reading his Bible with his suitcase packed. The idea is that we are merely travelers on this earth, sojourners, nomads. We can never feel really settled on this earth. We will never feel completely at home here. We know that something is missing. We sense in our inner core that something is not right, and that is, that man is separated from God.
When God created the world He walked around with Adam and Eve in the garden. He talked with them and mankind was meant to be always in communion with God. But shortly after woman and man sinned, and ever since then the relationship has not been the same between God and man. Even after Jesus came and gave us the Holy Spirit, we still have a constant battle against the flesh, as Paul talks about in Romans 8.
Jesus said that we are "The light of the world." And Paul says, "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."
The idea is that the world is total darkness, and God calls us to shine in this darkness. We are wholly different. Paul says, "What can light have in common with darkness?" The answer is, very little. That is when he commands us to not be unequally yoked etc. We are in the world but not of it. We are to be set apart, to be different. Jesus was in the world but remained clean. He hung out with sinners, but He did not become a sinner. He hung out with greedy tax collectors, but He Himself was never greedy.
Jesus said, "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" The implication is that we cannot have both the world and walk in a right relationship with God. We can either focus on building up treasures on this earth or treasures in heaven. Usually it is hard to do both. Such was the case with the rich young ruler. He loved his worldly wealth too much to strive for eternal wealth. He was blinded by the things of this world, by his possessions.
John said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." The darkness usually does not like the light. As was the case with Jesus and the Pharisees. They were in darkness, even though they were the "religious" leaders of the day. And what did they do to Jesus? They had Him killed! So if people don't like you, good! Many also did not like Jesus.
Darkness will always try to put out the light, because they love the darkness; darkness hides their sin. Darkness loves lies; those in darkness live a lie. The light is the truth. Darkness hates the truth. They do not want to open up to others for fear that their sin will be found out. So they hide in the darkness; they hide in isolation; they hide in lies and self-deception. And they hide around people who will flatter them and not speak the truth in love to them.
The Bible says that in the last days preachers will compromise and tell people what their itching ears want to hear. This is why many in the church are still in darkness, because the Word is not accurately preached. Yes God is love, but He is also just. There will be a judgement day, and it may be coming sooner than we think. But pastors don't want to step on any toes. They don't want to offend people. They want to be popular. So they say what people want them to say instead of what is the Truth.
On the flip side many people were also very drawn to Jesus. I love the quote, "A good way to tell if you're a leader is to look behind you. Is anyone following you?" Jesus had many, many following him and many who all out loved him with their whole hearts because they saw that he was Good.
We are to be very divisive people as Christians. People will most likely either love us or hate us, as they did with Jesus. If we are truly walking the walk and not compromising, some people will be inexplicably drawn to us, and others will try to make our lives a living hell. So be ready. That is why Jesus says, "Take up your cross and follow me." It's not easy actually living as a Christian. Jesus and the disciples in Acts endured much opposition from the world, and we will as well.
Jesus said, "Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." That seems like an odd statement if you really think about it. So we are to "hate" our life in this world? But we are supposed to be thankful also.
It is a balance. We are be content but also discontent at the same time. We are to not complain in the sense that we tell God we think He is doing a bad job with blessing or not blessing us. We are not be self-centered in our walk and think of God as a genie who is to meet all our wants etc. But we are not to be happy with the world at the same time. We are to have our sights fixed on heaven, endure things of this world, and await the day we will be with God 24/7. John says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world." Yes we are here on this earth for now, so we can make the best of it we can, but this is not where we belong. Our hearts are meant to long for the day when we can be with God/Jesus forever.
May we learn how to have this balance of being content but not content at the same time. Grace and peace be with you. :)
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