Sittin’ on my porch. Enjoyin’ the sunset. I do believe this is why we were created.”
–Stephen Bly (It’s Your Misfortune)
“Foolishness is joy to one who lacks sense, But a person of understanding walks straight.”
–Proverbs 15:21(NASB)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we ourselves are children of God, and we also know that the world around us is under the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (Phillips)
This world is evil, don’t compromise with it, do not deny it, and do not become complacent in it. First of all, know the truth. Get into the Bible, study it, mark the doctrines then do your job as a believer: live by them, guard them. When you know the truth you can confront what others in the world call “truth.” The foolishness of those living today make this harder to do as they continually change the truth. For instance, truth states that there are two genders (and the laws of biology confirm them), yet there are those in the world whose “truth” says that there are many genders. Not only is that not of the truth, but it is idiocy. The postmodernist with their relative truth can jump all around a subject simply by stating that is truth to them, and you have your own truth. Foolishness! Apostasy!
When we know the truth we can avoid subtle heresy. I don’t see the gift of being an auditor in the Bible, but I can fully understand what Kierkegaard what saying, “An apostle proclaims the truth, an auditor is responsible for discovering counterfeits.” We must know the truth, and it is our responsibility to spot heresies or counterfeits to the truth. This can only be done if we have knowledge of the doctrine, of the truth. It is then, when we know the doctrine that we have true fellowship with God and our joy may be complete.
“And as we believe and understand and practice these things in our relationship to God, in our relationship to one another as Christians, and in our relationship to the world that is outside, the joy will remain in us. Indeed, it will increase and continue, and at the end we shall find ourselves standing in His holy presence with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
“And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”
–1 Peter 1:9 (NASB)
I believe a song by Barney E. Warren, should be etched in our soul. It will help us live in this world and walk in fellowship with God.
“I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth every need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.
I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing, I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.
I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face.
I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll;
It is like a great o’erflowing well,
Springing up within my soul.
It is joy unspeakable, and full of glory
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable, and full of glory
Oh, the half has never yet been told.”
The world says this is pleasure, this is happiness, this will bring joy. Come, eat drink and be merry, you have only this one life. Ah, but when we find Jesus we find the pleasure we once craved, walking and talking and living in this world with Him.