Not of this World

If you know me, you know I am a huge Oklahoma Sooners fan. In all my years of rooting for the Sooners, I have only identified one problem: I live in Texas. I’m constantly surrounded by people wearing their burnt orange Longhorn shirts or their maroon Aggie hats, and there I am sporting the crimson and cream.

And of course, these Aggies and Longhorns are always giving me a hard time, so I just have to remind them which football program has won more national titles and Heisman trophies (hint: it’s not located in Texas).

I like to compare my situation as a Sooner fan living in Texas to being a member of God’s kingdom. As believers, you and I are members of God’s kingdom, yet we still live here on this earth that is full of sin and evil. And just like Texas fans are always showing me their horns and trying to pull me down to their ways, this fallen world does everything it can to bring us down and pull us away from our Savior. Tests, trials, and temptations seem to be around every corner.

In order to help us maintain the right attitude towards this situation, let me point you to 3 passages of Scripture from the Gospel of John.

1. John 14:1-3 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”

This world is not our eternal home. The Bible tells us we are simply “sojourners” or “temporary residents” here on earth. God has much better things in store for those who are faithful. When we pass away, we will be with Him in heaven. At the end of time, we will be a part of the new creation—the new heavens and the new earth—for all eternity.

2. John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the word would love you as its own. However, because you are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.”

This is what Jesus told His disciples just a few days before being crucified, and it still applies to you and I today. If you are a believer, and therefore a member of God’s kingdom, then you, too, are not of this world, because Christ has chosen you out of it. So we don’t live according to the standards of this world; we live in accordance with God and His Word.

3. John 16:21-22 “When a woman is in labor she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy.”

Jesus knew His departure from this earth would cause His disciples to become sorrowful. Even today I sometimes wish Jesus was here with you and I. But this illustration Jesus gives is powerful: One day we will see Him again, and all the pain will be forgotten. Our sorrow will be covered with joy. Oh how we should long for that day!

Living in this world is no doubt a challenge. But if we will remain in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be changed. We will become less like our sinful selves and more like our Savior.

In conclusion, here are two things to remember:

1. We are not of this world!

2. Boomer Sooner!