Pondering the life I’m leading, I’m struck by the difference between the mind-set of the world and the awareness of Jesus in my life.  To the world, ownership and identity are the primary reasons of life.  They chase after absolutely everything that can be grasped by man.  But the Christian will learn to abhor these things and become consumed with the Spiritual things.

Sports, sex, houses, land, title, friends, and money are the objects of the world’s affection.  But righteousness, pleasing the Father in Heaven, evangelism, prayer, and watching against sin are the objects of the Christian’s affection.  Every moment is consumed with the things of the Lord for the Christian.  Yet the very last thing a worldly person wants to do is ponder religion and God. 

This difference is never so plain as when, after a time of reflection on the things of Heaven, I talk to a worldly person.  Our conversation will be sharply divided.  No matter what we talk about, I am headed toward the connections between the things of this world and the things of God.  Yet the worldly person will stop his thinking at the things of this world.  To him, life is simple and radically confusing.  To the Christian, life is never simple or confusing.  God is primary to the one who has accepted Jesus.  Jesus is the stench of death to the worldly person. 

I feel the strain every time I talk with the worldly person.  And it causes me to yearn for isolation again.  But isn’t this the state of affairs?  We are not our own.  We are bought with a price.  And we no longer belong to the system of understanding this world craves.

By His Grace.