Keeping The Lord Always Before Us

We all know that technology can be used for good purposes, for bad purposes and for really ugly purposes. My thanks to GMpilot for sharing a link to an article that reveals the scary fact that a hi-tech passport recently designed to frustrate terrorists and fraudsters has already been tampered with and the security codes were easily broken by a computer expert. This just demonstrates, once more, that no matter how advanced we become in the technological world, there will always be people who will use (or attempt to use) such "advances" for evil purposes.

This reminds me of our free will. On this earth, we have our own free will which can be used for good purposes, for bad purposes, and, of course, for really ugly purposes. We see the results of the last two every day on the news.

This is why Jesus has told us that His kingdom is "not of this world."

Below, are several Bible verses that attest to this fact. They also reveal how as followers of Christ, we are not to be "of this world" either. Yep. That last comment might spark a lot of jokes about Christians. But when you really think about it, it's the best advice that Jesus could have given us and is so true as it relates to our Christian walk!

I know a lot of believers who never watch T.V. anymore. They don't want to expose themselves, or their children, to the corruption that lives there.

This morning, I was reading an excerpt from The Whistleblower magazine entitled, "Why Hollywood Is Insane." I'm sure that I will be sharing some excerpts from it in the near future.

Back to being "not of this world." This doesn't mean that Christians should isolate themselves from the world. To do so would eliminate the chances that we would have to share the Gospel of Christ. Neither are we to infected by the world. We are called to infiltrate the world for Christ. To do so, requires being born again in Jesus Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us. We then learn and experience the principle of transformation by focusing our minds on God.

We should heed the words of Psalm 16:8,9

Psa 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my right hand, I shall not be moved.


Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Worship of God always transforms us because it is then that we are keeping "the LORD always before" us. I once heard the analogy that it is similar to the metamorphosis from a "bug" to a "butterfly." Once transformed, we do not desire to be swallowed back up inside that cocoon we once lived in. A butterfly is free to fly into an entirely new world of existence. That may be a somewhat crude description of the transformed Christian believer, but I understand it because I have lived it. I'm sure many other readers here have had similar experiences.

Jesus and His Word, the Bible, has a lot to say about not being conformed to this world. Below are just a few verses. We would be wise to heed them!

Jesus certainly had a lot to say about not being "of this world."

Jhn 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.



Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.




Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.



Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.



Jhn 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard [him] ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.



Jhn 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.



Jhn 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.



Act 19:27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.



Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.



1Cr 1:20 Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?


1Cr 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

1Cr 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.



1Cr 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.



1Cr 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away.



2Cr 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.


2Cr 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.



Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].



Jam 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?



1Jo 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.