Beyond This World.

 Fitting in with society, with your peers, with those you interact with on a day to day basis. Isn't this the way of life for us? When you don't quite fit in, when you can't suspend the you inside of you to meet the standards of belonging, you are ostracized. You might begin to suspect you don't quite fit in when you are in school, or even before that if you are constantly being told to stop behaving as you are, and you are seemingly unable to alter your behavior. When you hear the words- "What's wrong with you?" And in your mind you have no idea, you are just you, then you have to know there is something you're missing, there is something about you that is considered wrong, or different. Being able to fit in is a true gift many overlook. Being able to fit in to those who do fit in, consider it normal and therefore it's become abnormal not to fit in. 

Today, more than at any other time it seems not fitting in is becoming more recognized if not normalized. The recognition of the growing number of those unable to fit in is becoming a norm all on its own. We haven't arrived at the point of creating a society where people out of the norm are given an entire way of life suited for them- we still medicate, psychoanalyze, therapy induce, and institutionalize so many in the attempt to fit them in with the way our world is run. 

What's my elusive point, if I have one? This world is run against individualism and it's only as individuals do we make the choice to believe in Christ, to believe in the Father God to gain the salvation offered to us for life eternal beyond this world, beyond this life. 

Yes, there are too numerous to count religions and religious organizations, but no organization is able to guarantee salvation, not one. You can cite all the right passages, creeds and statements of beliefs your church holds but not a single one of those gives you eternal life. 

Eternal life is a heart matter, salvation is a heart matter, individually we are able to belong to our Savior.

Yes, I've rambled on, but sometimes it's just the way it goes. 

This world and the majority of people who fill it truly are not children of God.

Everyone has a choice to make, and we often make our choice based on fitting in with the world around us. We would rather make a celebration of not needing to believe in God, or we make the choice to believe in radicalized religions which are not of God, no matter how often He is labeled as such. They've given God a very bad name, and many would rather shun all things of God than take a stand similar in any way to the deceived Christ followers.

This world is cruel in many ways, to a lot of its inhabitants. No, it's not usually cruel all the time without respite. We are often allowed sunshine with  the rain, but I say that as an individual in my own circumstances. Some have horrific circumstances and others, wonderful, living seemingly gilded lives. 

My circumstances allow me to recognize how very blessed I've been. Not materially wealthy, seldom financially secure, healthy in many ways, cared for by others, loved by family, rarely terrorized, never been brutally beaten, I could go on with my list, but there's no need. You have your own circumstance of life, we all do, and as an individual whether you fit into the norms of the world, or you do not- you have choices to make. 

We can choose to live for this world, seeking friendship with this world, conforming to this world, being accepted by this world, giving the world our affection, living to fulfil the pleasures that play on our lusts in our world, or… or we can choose a much better world to live for- the future heavenly world that doesn't exist for us right now but is promised to us. We must believe in the world offered to us by our God, we must accept the gift of salvation offered to us by our God Jesus who sacrificed His life to give us this gift. By the grace of God I will live for the unseen world, choosing that world over this one. I will by the grace of God, love ALL people as He loves All, but I will not love this world. All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 

Unspotted from the world, friendship with the world is enmity with God. Being a friend of the world means being an enemy of god. 

Not of this world, Jesus was not of this world. 

Being not conformed to this world. 

Delivered from this present evil world. 

The world is crucified unto us, and we are crucified to the world. 

Affections set in heaven, not on earth.

Love not the world. Love neither the things in the world. 

All the  lusts of the world are not of God. 

Doing the will of God- abide forever. 

Being born of God-overcomes the world. 

Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, overcomes the world. 

Jas 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 

Joh 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 

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. 

Gal 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father

Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

1Jn 5:18  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.