Cause' I Refuse to Conform to the Patterns of this World

People are driving the latest and fastest cars. Do they know where they are going? The 16 year old girl dresses provocatively to be accepted by her boyfriend. Does she know where she’s going? The group of friends are getting high off of pot and cocaine. Do they know where they are going? The business man cheats his way to the top thinking no one will notice. Does he know what he is doing? All the happy faces leaving the church building. Do they know where they are going?

Some days I feel so trapped by the culture and society’s rules and regulations. Sometimes I feel so weighed downed by the demands of people and the world that I forget that I am supposed to be living for God. I have made my share of mistakes. I have said and done things I wish I could take back. But God changed me from this inside out. He restores my soul and there is joy in the morning. When I look out into the world I wonder, how can people survive this life without knowing the King and Father of this world?

God loves the whole world and He is everywhere. At twenty-one years of age, I have learned that I do not want to follow the patterns that this world offers me. I want to look out into the world and see it the way Christ sees it.

See, from the moment we are born both God and the world have been grabbing for our attention. It is as if the world is on one shoulder and God is on the other. The world shouts our name and God whispers it. We must listen closely.

People today do not want to talk about the truth. We hide it under the rug and tell ourselves it will be okay, or it will never happen to me. We like to hide our mistakes to keep the “happy” and “perfect” smile. We see the hurting person, but we never dig deep enough to see what he or she is going through. We seek revenge when we should forgive. We let unrealistic expectations and pleasing other people rule our lives. We then let labels, prescription bottles and man’s words define us. We justify and compromise our values and beliefs. We settle for worldly happiness when we could have pure joy.

Could it be that our fast consuming lifestyle is making us care more about our own well-being and our own fame that we are missing out on God’s purpose for us?

I am not saying we have to be afraid of this world or hide ourselves from it. We need to be doing the exact opposite. I believe that if we protect ourselves from the world, we will miss out on God’s purpose for this life. We need to be out in the world. We need to know the dangers. We need to see the brokenness. We need to take the risks. We need to know how to defend our faith and stand up for what we believe in. We have to stop being so self-centered and start to see the world the way God sees it.

The question we have to ask ourselves is not what we can do for the world, but what does God want us to do for His world? 1 John 5:4 says, “Because whatever has been born of God conquers this world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.” Someone once asked me, “Will you conquer the world, or will you let the world conquer you?”

At twenty-one years of age, I know that my purpose for living this life is not a “calling”. It is not something that I have to wait around for God to reveal a “sign” to me. My purpose for this life is what Jesus already sent us all to do: to invade the world for Christ and to spread His glory and love everywhere we go.

I am not going to sit around waiting on God when He is the one waiting for me.

John 20:19 says “As for the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Therefore, we should know that Christ has given us the amazing task of being sent into the world to invade and proclaim His truth. Whether it is up the street to a neighbour or across the sea, it is the only way we find true fulfillment, because we are fulfilling God’s glorious purpose and plan for His world.

If you believe Jesus is the son of God, that He died for your sins, have asked Him for forgiveness and have surrendered to His will you have become a messenger of His truth. It is that simple.

The shame is that many of Christians are missing out on the privilege to be God’s light in the world and miss the concept of being a follower of Christ.

Here is the truth; we are in a war. Yes, this world has many amazing things and God does hold the victory, but there is a war against human nature and being a new creation in Christ. There may not be tanks or men running down our streets with guns, but there is a spiritual battle going on in our hearts and minds. Do you feel it? Every human on this planet is being tempted daily to say yes to the world and no to God. Even if 99% of you want to please God in every way, that 1% can take your whole body for granted and leave you feeling full of guilt, shame and regret.

I want to give you a brief, but clear depiction of what Satan is and what he is trying to do to us. Satan is the thief and deceiver of this world. He loves it when we doubt God and he rejoices when we fall into temptation. He tries to convince us that missions and living for Christ are optional. He likes to twist our minds to think it’s okay to pick and choose what we want to do for Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 says it all: “For Satan himself is disguised as an angel of light. So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” The devil is real - Do not deny it. For even when we deny it, we are letting Satan have full reign over our hearts and minds.

All Satan has to do is take you off the focus of living for Christ.

We must know our weapons to use against the evil one. We must make prayer and solitude a priority. We must construct our lives to that of staying self-disciplined in reading our Bibles and surrounding ourselves with fellow believers. We then have to apply what we learn to our actual life. And we must take up our shield of faith.

We have to mentally, physically and spiritually separate ourselves from the world’s exceptions and demands so we can fully commit to God’s ways so when we get out into the real world we can change it instead of letting it change us!

God did not carry the bloody cross for us just so we could worship Him and keep our faith in a four wall building. He wants us to live out our faith in this lost world so that others can know the truth and be saved. Safety and security are not as important as knowing Christ and living according to His ways. In this life you are not meant to sit on the sidelines. There are people out in the world who are broken, beaten and dying for something to fill their empty soul. This world is sick and the only healer is Jesus. Christ has given you the power to save someone’s life. You will get bruised, worn out and exhausted, but your life will turn into an incredible legacy and journey only Christ can fill.

This is how the lost get found. This is how the empty can be filled. This is how God’s purpose is fulfilled.

Wake up! Stop wandering! Know your values and morals. Discern right from wrong. Unleash your gifts and abilities that are different than anyone else and make a change!

And never apologize for loving Jesus.

Will you represent the world or will you represent God to the world?

So, at twenty one years of age I have learned I cannot simply follow what everyone around me is doing. I need to question my motives, attitudes and reasons why I believe what I believe and why I do what I do. I am finished settling for less than the fullness of life Christ gives me. I am done trying to do everything on my own strength. I know that some days I may not hear His voice, but I will remember the promise and purpose He made for me long ago.

At the end of the day I do not want to represent my work, university or even my church. I want to represent Christ. Not because it is my duty as a believer, but because it gives me such a privilege to know I am living for God and have His purpose and meaning for living.

He is my greatest adventure.

I want to invade the world for Him ‘cause I refuse to conform to the patterns of this world.

Author: Sarah Evangeline

Be Empowered:

“Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world the love for the Father is not in him. Because everything that belongs to the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of one’s lifestyle - is not from the Father, but is from the world.” - 1 John 2:15-16

Romans 12:12 “Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then this will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His perfect and [beautiful] will.”

Psalm 22: 10 “You have been my God from the moment I was born.”

“For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” - 2 Peter 1:3