| If you go into a book store you will | | | | from His Kingdom. We don't belong to |
| find shelves and shelves full of self | | | | Him, we are Satan's children. The Truth |
| help books and magazines that offer tips | | | | makes no sense to those who don't |
| in losing weight, eating healthier, | | | | follow Christ. |
| how to decorate on a dime and even | | | | But, once we accept Jesus, then God |
| save money in the kitchen and how to | | | | adopts us as His children. We then |
| recycle our clothes. There's nothing | | | | become aliens to this world, we no |
| wrong with any of it, but the only way | | | | longer belong in this world. |
| any of it will work is if we actualy do | | | | "Therefore, you are no longer outsiders |
| them. It all calls for a course of | | | | (exiles, migrants, and aliens, |
| action. This may be the hard part. | | | | excluded from the rights of citizens), |
| Being a Christian, this too is very | | | | but you now share citizenship with the |
| true. In order to get something out of | | | | saints (God's own people, consecrated |
| God's Word, we not only have to read it | | | | and set apart for Himself); and you |
| or hear it, we also must live it. It's | | | | belong to God's (own) household." Eph. |
| one thing to be "Born Again" and quite | | | | 2:19 (Amplified) |
| another to live a so called Christian | | | | The Apostle Paul instructs us further |
| life. Is there really any difference? | | | | when he said, "Do not be conformed to |
| Once you're saved, you're | | | | this world, but be transformed by the |
| saved...right? That's right, but do you | | | | renewal of your mind so that you may |
| want the victories in this life or are | | | | prove what is good and acceptable and |
| you merely satisfied getting by on the | | | | perfect will of God even the thing which |
| skin of your teeth? | | | | is good and acceptable and perfect in |
| A "Born Again" Christian becomes a true | | | | His sight for you." Rom. 12:2 |
| child of God's, he no longer belongs | | | | (Amplified) |
| in the world or the things of it~mainly | | | | The person who seriously loves Christ |
| sin. I could expand on this alot more, | | | | and wants to follow Him, will study |
| but time and space don't allow. I | | | | God's commands an live in all His ways. |
| mainly want to express what it means to | | | | No longer will he be content to accept |
| be "out of this world". | | | | the lies and the things in this world, |
| God's Word tells us that we brought | | | | he will no longer fit in nor will he |
| nothing into this world and obviously | | | | desire to be conformed to it. But |
| we can't take anything out of it. (1 | | | | rather, a true Christian will love what |
| Tim. 6:7) Whatever we may accumulate in | | | | God loves and hate what God hates. God |
| this life is actually owned on | | | | transforms our minds through His |
| borrowed time. This reminds me of a | | | | saving grace. This transformation |
| bumper sticker that use to be in | | | | creates a renewal of our mindset. We |
| cirulation. It read, "The one who dies | | | | live to please and be acceptable to |
| with the most toys wins." It was cute | | | | God. This is not an outward act, but |
| and funny, but like so many other | | | | rather an inward one. Only God can see |
| things that the world says, is simply | | | | through us. |
| not true. | | | | For a Christian to feel out of place, or |
| Jesus said, "For what does it profit a | | | | like an alien, as if he doesn't belong |
| man to gain the whole world and | | | | here is quite normal. Take rest in this, |
| forfeit his life (in the eternal kingdom | | | | this world is not your home, it's not |
| of God)?" Mk. 8:36 (Amplified) | | | | where you were meant to end up. Jesus |
| In verse 35, He goes on to say that in | | | | said in His Father's House there are |
| order to save your (eternal) life you | | | | many, many rooms which He went to |
| must lose the temporal one on earth. And | | | | prepare a place for us. It is in God's |
| if you give this life up for His sake | | | | Kingdom that we are bound to live |
| you will then save your life in the | | | | eternity. It's important to be |
| eternal kingdom. In other words, we must | | | | prepared for when that time comes. It's |
| be born again in order to be God's | | | | natural to feel like a stranger here, |
| child, an heir to His Kingdom. | | | | you are! You are simply "out of this |
| It's a long, difficult journey to become | | | | world!" |
| a true Christian because it requires a | | | | Another thing, as a Born Again Believer |
| whole new life style, and a whole new | | | | you can take rest in knowing that |
| way of thinking. When we live blind to | | | | Christ's second coming is as certain as |
| the Truth, God considers us aliens | | | | His first one. Hallelujah! |