Truth about the WORLD
Amanda Perera
The world offers us different ideas, philosophies, products, solutions, practices and life styles- day in and day out. We are talking about everything the world throws at us or carefully markets to us. Be it ideas about politics, religion, economic restructuring and gender OR technical advancements and AI solutions like Alexa, Siri, 5G and the Metaverse. Be it entertainment across latest movies, video games and virtual reality OR medical and scientific advancements such as gene therapy and genetic engineering. The list goes on and on.
It is the norm of life to embrace those things that make life easy, seem appealing, appear to bring success and advancement and which everyone else is embracing. It is far more natural to go along with the endless current of the world. It almost seems to catch us unawares and leave us with seemingly no choice. The world keeps offering, suggesting, prescribing, requiring and even making mandatory many things. Life itself gets defined by these things far more often than we like to admit it.
However in a startling reminder and warning, the word of God tells us that the ‘unchristian world’ is under the control of Satan.
“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one”.
1 John 5:19
While this does not remove God’s sovereignty, it clearly points to the reality that those who don’t have Christ in them have given the better control of their lives to Satan. Does this not give us good reason to suspect that much of what this world offers (in terms of products, solutions, ideas, philosophies, practices or lifestyles etc.) requires our careful scrutiny against the Word of God?
When Satan tempted our Lord Jesus, he suggested that our Lord should bow down to him with a promise to give him all the kingdoms of the world in return. Satan is not at all ambiguous that the control of those things is currently in his hands, and that he is able to give it to whom he wants.
“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
Luke 4:5-7
Again the sovereignty of God stands above the hands of the destroyer who works havoc (Isaiah 54:16). However the fact remains as a caution to us that much of what this world offers (and is considered as ‘good and desirable’ by people), are things that Satan holds and offers in exchange for worshiping him. Is it then a surprise that much of those who reach the peaks of money, fame and power in this world appear to have done so at the cost of their souls? It is so much to be expected, as we see these very words used by Satan when he tempted our Lord Jesus.
In this same train of thought, we must not forget that the bible warns us of Satan disguising himself as an angel of light.
“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14
This gives us further reason for caution. For some of the things offered and suggested by the world will indeed come across as totally innocent, well-meaning and even as ‘good, loving and peaceable.
How often is a false mindset and action advocated in the name of ‘tolerance, love and peace’ in this world? In fact, going along ‘does’ ensure the peace (as long as peace is defined outside of Christ and merely as ‘trouble free living’). However our Lord was very clear that He did NOT come to bring peace but a sword.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” Matthew 10:34-36
Surely the bible tells us so clearly that those who truly follow Him will be opposed by the world at large.
“…and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved”. Matthew 10:22
Hated by ALL! ‘All’ being the world at large. How can we miss this? The bible is so clear that we are at odds with the world at large.
So the question at hand is whether we are willing to face up to the truth about the world around us. Facing up means also honestly considering what our Christian response should be to those things around us. The truth about the world is ugly as the bible confirms it. What God expects of a Christian as a result is also clear. Consider the passages below:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”. Romans 12:2
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God;
as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;…”
2 Corinthians 6:14-17
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world”. John 1:27
We are called so clearly to remain ‘set apart’. That is to be holy and separate from what is defiled. We are told that we must not conform to the pattern of the world. There is a renewing of the mind that happens when we allow God’s word to change the way we look at things, evaluate things and understand things. We are reminded that it is in the context of such a renewed mind that we will be able to test and approve what will align with the perfect will of God.
It is in facing up to the horrific realities around us (even if it takes some unravelling) that we are able to walk as authentic Christians and mourn with Jesus for the appalling condition of the world. It is only then that we can begin to appreciate the bitterness of the cup from which Jesus drank and the horror of sin he allowed himself to take on- my sin and that of the world at large.
It is not simply that the world is evil. It is also that there is a spiritual battle for our souls out there. Satan would do anything in the world and with those whom he has taken captive to lure Christians away from God. Christians must understand that an evil world is not a passive influence to reject but a constant, subtle, deceptive, hidden, secretive battle for our souls. Therefore there is much out there that is hidden to the naked eye and thrives on the ignorance of the masses. There is much that works like bait given to a fish- aimed precisely at those who wish to follow Christ.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”. 1 Peter 5:8
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
Ephesians 2:1-3
It is only if we face up to these realities that we can begin to see how God has equipped us through His word. Equipped us to expect, understand, face and even respond to these realities. It is only then that we can fully face up to the extent of the cost of our commitment to Jesus. The cost appreciates as we face up to the gravity of sin, evil and hidden schemes around us. We begin to realise the grave stands we may need to brace ourselves to make for Jesus and the telling implications of those choices. Facing up prepares us to face the reality with prayer and preparation (Ephesians 6:10-18) across our own Gethsemane experiences.
More often than not we fear facing up to the unthinkable. As such, we resist the invitation to ‘fully’ examine the things of the world in the light of scripture. Let us search our hearts deeply to know what causes the reluctance -the reluctance to explore and examine the possible horrors of the realities around us. Facing up to the harsh realities of the world has harsh and telling implications on the ‘cost of commitment’ to Jesus. However we need to face up and willingly go through our experiences of Gethsemane and be willing to walk to Golgotha as our Lord did. We are in fact called to follow Jesus down this path, carrying our cross, being willing to face the blow of standing at odds with the world at large.
All Christians without exception are called to remain alert, awake and vigilant! We are called to wear the full armour of God and remain prayerful and discerning. We are called to face up to the truth about the world at large which should keep us on our toes constantly. All Christians have been soberly warned that we must not conform to the pattern of this world- surely then the pattern of this world must be anti-Christian by default!
May the God before whom everything is uncovered and laid bare (Hebrews 4:13) give His children the grace to see things in His light, to be led by Him and to walk in His wisdom in these trying times!
MAY WE BE COMMITTED TO OUR LORD JESUS WHO IS THE TRUTH, AND THEREBY BE COMMITTED TO EVERYTHING HE STANDS FOR – THE TRUTH ABOUT US AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WORLD!
It is the norm of life to embrace those things that make life easy, seem appealing,
appear to bring success and advancement and which everyone else is embracing.
It is far more natural to go along with the endless current of the world.
It almost seems to catch us unawares and leave us with seemingly no choice.
All Christians without exception are called to remain alert, awake and vigilant! We are called to wear the full armour of God and remain prayerful and discerning.
Amanda Arasaratnam (Mandy) lives in Bahrain with her husband Sam and two children. She is a stay at home mom. Mandy testifies to a strong calling in the recent years to write what God has impressed upon her heart, for the extension of His Kingdom.
MOUNTAIN-TOPS & HOLY GROUND
– by Tanya Ferdinandusz
I sought the mountain-top,
A heavenly place
that touches the sky;
But try as I might,
I never could reach it,
The climb was steep and high.
I sought transfiguration,
With its shining, shimmering
heights of glory;
But strive though I may,
I just could not lay claim
to the splendours of that story.
I avert reluctant eyes
away from visions
of rapturous beings, of radiant faces.
I entrust my heart to nail-scarred hands…
and I become Your dwelling-place.
And in surrender,
I stand arrayed,
in the swirling mists of grace;
And when at last
the clouds have cleared,
I will behold – Your Face.
No mountain-climbing,
No frenzied scrambling,
Yet, truly, grace abounds;
Peace that surpasses
all understanding;
I stand on holy ground.