Worldly Scars

Junior high was rough for me. There are times when I still can feel the scars that were left by those few short years of turmoil. As a teenage girl I wanted to fit it, to be cool, to hang with the 'in crew'. But there was also this desire in me to be different. And I know that it's what got me into trouble with the group I so desired to be a part of. At the time I claimed to be Christian but wasn't living the lifestyle, but I feel as though the urges to be different were put upon me by God. Christians are called to stand out from the world, but the world doesn't like those who differ.

I am currently in 1 John in my Journible and in chapter 3 John states, "Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." This harsh blurb in the section of chapter 3, titled "Love One Another", had a cross reference that took me to the gospel of John chapter 15 where Jesus spoke:

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ 

Christ was rejected.  He was betrayed, beaten, the crowds mocked him and tore his clothes.  He was hated by a world of people who didn't get what they wanted out of his life on earth.  The crowd was filled with religious folks who wanted redemption from the Romans not from their own sin.  They didn't want to know or acknowledge their evil ways.  They lived obedient lives, they were elder brothers who lived the way they did to earn their 'get out of hell free card'.  Christ was persecuted.  Christ was nailed to a cross by a world that hated him.

So we are not to be surprised if we too are hated by the world.  Jesus states in verse 20, "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you."  The world follows fleshly desires that we are called to turn from, and not just turn our head away but to run far from.  And so we when talk about saving sex for marriage or avoiding drunkenness for the sake of living for Christ, we look different.  Most of the time the ones who love indulging in the temptations of the flesh don't want to hear that they are living sinful lives, so we are rejected.

"But it sounds awful to live a life that keeps me isolated from being cool, from fitting in, from all the fun."  Once again I'm reminded of my middle school years which were temporary, just as this world.  When we leave earth and are placed in the presence of God, being cool according to worldly standards isn't going to matter.  Having a heart that is fully devoted to Christ will.

Psalm 37:4 states, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."  Many will read this and think, "God wants me to be happy with what makes me happy."  Or an excuse for us to keep living our sinful ways.  But when Christ takes hold of our hearts he changes our hearts.  We are chosen out of this world, as John states in verse 19, chosen to be different than the rest of the world and we delight in that.  God gives us the desires of our hearts by changing our hearts and our desires that will glorify Christ which in turns gives us ultimate joy in Christ.  Praise to God almighty who chose me out of this world in order to joyfully live for his kingdom alone!