Today’s bible study is: Romans 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.
It’s very difficult for us not to be conformed to this world. We live in this world, work in this world, raise our families in this world, and enjoy many of the beauties of this world. When we arise each day, we have very real concerns about this world and our place in it. As we go about our tasks, we relate, over and over again, to this world. This is the world that we dress for, drive for, work for, teach for, provide for, and laugh for.
But is there another world with which we ought to be concerned? The simple answer is a resounding: Yes. As we pursue our daily lives in this very real world of sandy, red clay Columbia, South Carolina, our hearts and minds can be centered on the world of God. It is His world, not ours, which will make everything we say and think and do acceptable and perfect in His sight.
This sounds a bit psychotic, doesn’t it? How is it possible to live in two worlds at the same time? Well, it is not psychotic, not is it unreasonable. It would be ridiculous to say we must live in Columbia and Paris simultaneously, because it would be geographically impossible. But God’s world is everywhere and anywhere. In isn’t a place we can point to on a map or a globe. It lives within the hearts and minds of the faithful Christian, the follower of Jesus Christ.
God’s world is perfect and allows us just a bit of insight into that perfection by filling our hearts and minds with the love of God, the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, and the teachings of our Lord and Savior.
As we go about out very real lives in this very real world, let us remember that there is yet another world, God’s world. It’s not something we necessarily have to wait for. It’s here and not and forever. It lives in us, warms and strengthens us, gives us a deeper gratitude and ability to love, and radiates through us to shine the light of God to others.
We may never, in this lifetime, be completely good, acceptable and perfect, but we can try. We can pray, we can learn, and we can follow. We can live within God’s world wherever we go and wherever our lives take us. It is constant, redeeming and omnipresent. May we always center our hearts and our minds on the world of God as we center our hands and knowledge on the tasks that await us in this world each day.
