I find myself bumping up against this theme more often lately. I fear it is a subject to which we seldom give serious thought. To define the idea I quote a portion of the High Priestly prayer of Jesus:
John 17:14-16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
We, as God’s children, find ourselves in a world system that is at its core hostile toward us. In our Savior’s prayer for us He expresses His will that we not be drawn into the values and standards of the world, but rather that we would remain in it as the “salt and light” that we are intended to be. Notice how Peter address the same issue:
1 Peter 2:9-12 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Holding our “godly” place in our secular stations of life is one of the real challenges of being a Christian. I think that one very accurate definition of being a faithful Christian is holding our place with integrity and representing our Lord well. It is a great and satisfying work.
