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