Everyday I wake up to the same “world”. Okay, maybe some of the details change from day to day such as the latest squabbles going on in congress, the bad news about who has gotten murdered or abducted, and the most recent hollywood icon who has decided to destroy their life with drugs and reckless behavior. Essentially however the “world” stays the same. The “world” is predictable in that it moves us in the direction of seeking after power, the consumption of pleasureable experiences, and making a name for ourselves based on “worldly” success. This natural bent of the ”world” can be counted on to seek to conform us into a certain mold. We wake up everyday to this molding influence.
- We get out of bed and the world’s influence is there.
- We drive in traffic and the world’s influence is there.
- We arrive at the office and the world’s influence is there.
- We take phone calls, perform tasks, meet others after work for drinks, and the world’s influence is there.
Even when we try to escape the “world” by going on vacation the world’s influence is still there. Without having to work at it, the “world” is conforming us to its ways all the time.
“Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle–is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.”–I John 2:15-17
God warns us about the influence of the “world”. He pleads with us to beware and to not let the “world’s” influence reign in our lives.
The only way we can resist being conformed to the “world” is to find ourselves open and available to some other transforming influence instead.
“I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”–Romans 12:1-2
In recent months God has been leading me into times of solitude more regularly. For almost 2 years now I have been taking 3 hours on Monday’s to spend time exclusively with God. These times have been fruitful and vital to my relationship with him. I guard these “sabbath” times ruthlessly. God is drawing me to spend more time with him on a daily basis as well. What I am finding (surprise, surprise) is that God speaks to me. He encourages me, he sharpens me, and he shows me how he wants me to be in the “world”. These times of solitude for me are not simply an escape from the ”world” but also times for making space for God to do his transforming work in my heart. As a result He is showing me what it would look like for me to move back into the world in a new way, where I stand apart from the world rather than being conformed to it.
I know he is changing me because of how this dynamic is playing out in my life. In my times of solitude God speaks clearly and powerfully to me about a multitude of things. I find myself excited and diligent in journaling about the things he tells me and the steps he shows me to take. However when I find myself back in the ”world’ faced with following through on His directives I am faced with steps of faith that require more effort than I would have guessed they would in my times of solitude. I think this is why it is called a step of faith. I am learning that these “steps of faith” are necessary to push through if I am going to truly be transformed. God’s transforming work is not complete until the things he shows me in times of solitude are carried out in faith as I enter back into the ”world”.
Are you being conformed to the “world”, or are you allowing God’s transforming work to take place in your heart so that you stand apart from the “world” while still finding yourself in it.
Dave for Wellspring C 2009
