How I Live In But Not Of
"Live in the world but not of it." That is the call every Christian must answer to. Today's society makes us wonder if Jesus recognized the difficulty of such a task! Stuart Briscoe responds to the arduous nature of follow Christ while being a part of the world. He says with authority:
The society in which you and I live is becoming increasingly secularized. Europe has already become totally secularized, and has gone even further. [Europe has become] aggressively secular in its attack on all that is eternal, infinite, and spiritual and divine. America better wake up to this. But the easiest thing in the world is to become so enamored in the culture to which you live that you find yourself being pressed into its mold. And God says, ‘If you love me, you won't go that way. You'll stand firm.' And that's why you need to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, because it takes moral and spiritual strength to stand against it. 1
No doubt Briscoe's words bring light to the seriousness of the call to holiness. Yet even though the task of maintaining steadfastness in living the Christ life requires utmost diligence, tenacity, and faith, the decree still remains. God has called us to live lives of wonderful purpose and abundance. However, he made it an imperative to live set apart as his chosen people. For me, this means ensuring a lifestyle of uprightness and integrity to protect me and lead me to Heaven.