As goes the world…
By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – NIV
Paul sought to remind the believers in Rome that the new sacrificial system required the offering of ourselves as sacrifices which are still alive. The old system required animal sacrifices for worship. In Christ, we are out of the world system and into God’s kingdom. The believer then is no longer to conform to the pattern of the world under it’s god the devil and it’s way of doing things because he no longer belongs to it.
Although we still live in the world, the Bible teaches that we do not belong to it. One sign of of a deteriorating relationship with God is going back and becoming part of the evil worldly system, and enjoying it. The backsliden believer does everything as the world does. As the world goes, so does he. There is no difference between them and a none believer in thought, word and deed.
Paul urged that the believer be transformed by the renewal of his mind so as to test and know God’s will to guide living to please God. This transformation is from the worldly system into godly thinking. When the church, individually and corporately, reflects more of the world and copying its ways, than reflect Christ and His kingdom principles, something has gone wrong. Returning to God through repentance needs to be emphasized.
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
Shalom children of God.