And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
[Rom 12:2 NKJV]
I have never been one for joining and following just because everyone else was doing so. It never sat well with my spirit. I do not speak much of fashion trends, although, that can fit into this mindset. I am not speaking of the latest gadgets, even though there are many I refuse to use for a variety of reasons. When I say am not a joiner, I mean I try and follow where the Holy Spirit leads versus where the world leads.
Join is defined as “a: to become a member of a group or organization, b: to take part in a collective activity.” [Join]
My first realization that I am not a joiner was as a freshman in college when I decided to join a sorority. I made it as far as the initial “welcome to the sorority” event. As I began to become more acquainted with those already in the sorority I started hearing conversation that wasn’t pleasant. There was backstabbing and talks of “we let her in because we felt sorry for her” regarding a woman I barely knew but could tell was not their “typical” choice. As the time for prepping for initiation week came closer, I just knew it wasn’t for me. They were not happy when I chose to leave. What really disturbed me was that this was happening at a “Christian” university.
It is so sad that so many choose to be part of what is going on in the world. We know many do not know Christ, but it is heartbreaking to see supposed Christians blindly following deception and lies. Maybe they are afraid to be considered an outsider. Maybe they are afraid for their lives. It is more likely that they have chosen to believe everything they are told by their church rather than test it all to the scripture. God tells us to test all things so we can know what is good and what is not good. [1Th 5:21 NKJV] Those in the early church in Thessalonica were wise. They were eager to hear the Word but they made sure what they heard was truth by searching God’s Word. [Act 17:11 NKJV]
No matter the reason people choose to join the masses, the wide path, they are choosing world over God – world over truth. God warned us about being part of this world.
For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
[2Co 1:12 NKJV]
When we see so many taking the wide path, the popular path, we need to do our research. We need to study scripture to see if that path is truth. More often than not, the world’s wide path leads to destruction and not salvation.
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
[Mat 7:13-14 NKJV]
Shall we go the way of the world or shall we take the narrow path and follow Christ’s way?
We join with other believers of truth and search the Word for wisdom and guidance. Christ was not of this earth. His home was, and is, in heaven. [Jhn 8:23 NKJV] Although we have human bodies, those of us who firmly believe Christ also have our eternal home in heaven. We focus on joining up there rather than the world here.
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Prayer Day 70: Up Close