Is living in
the world, but not being “of” the world possible? I believe it is in the sense that the
Scriptures use the word “of”. In the
original languages, the case of nouns normally translated with the preposition “of”
is typically a possessive form. Fortunately,
“of” has this meaning in much of the English usage as well. So, not be “of the world” would mean I’m not
possessed by the world. And in that
sense I agree with the statement.
Chambers refers to Jesus living in another world rather than living
aloof. I believe that is an important
key to a life in but not of this world.
Paul says
that our battle is not against flesh and blood and then provides a list of enemies
in the spiritual sphere; enemies we can’t see.
It is the awareness of this sphere that helps me live in another world
while in this one, or will once I learn better focus on my Master. The enemies Paul lists exist in the same
sphere inhabited by my Master, and He is Master of that sphere too. I don’t want awareness of the spiritual
sphere to be aware of these enemies as much as to be aware of my Master. It is His reality I am after.
I referred
to emotional problems, or problems that affect me emotionally, as “handles” for
my spiritual enemies. When I hold a
grudge, harbor resentment, brood on a hurt, or revisit the feelings of a
hurtful event, I am providing a hand hold for my unseen enemies. They can use those to introduce ideas that
are not from my Master. Distracted by
these, my selfish sense of entitlement rises and I have left focus on my
Master. Once there, I am easy prey for
my spiritual enemies. Focused on my
Master, these emotional memories become more fodder for my sacrificial pyre,
chaff of my life to be burned so He can continue to transform me.
These
emotional hurts and hang ups come, but if my response if not awareness of this
spiritual sphere my enemies in this sphere can attack me. Awareness of this sphere enables me to
continue focus on my Master putting these things before Him and receive His
healing. I believe this is a sort of
spiritual discipline that will become automatic over time, but I have a lot of
practicing to do. I want to be so much
in this sphere that it feels weird not to be.
That way I will more readily return to it when I am distracted from it.
What this
awareness does is expand what I see around me. It is no longer rude and obnoxious people (or
shop keepers) that oppose me but their tormentors who sense in me their
enemy. When I am aware of this sphere, I
respond to the proper enemy rather than their human victim. How can I truly have a heart for those dead
ones apart from my Master without being aware of their oppression which keeps
them captive? If I see them as merely annoying,
I am missing the “rest of the story”, as Paul Harvey might describe it. There’s more going on and I’m only seeing a
portion of it.
I know
mental and emotional oppression personally.
This should give me an even greater sensitivity to it. And yet, my fear is not yet suppressed to the
point I can be brave in the face of these enemies. I still look at the wind and waves, and take
my eyes off my Master. I still wonder
what it would look like, what people will think, and I succumb to the
waves. The gates of hell cannot keep out
the truth of my faith, so why would I fear these enemies? They are already defeated! This is my Master’s will, that I engage this
world with the awareness of His constant mastery over it all. It is my connection to Him that enables me to
engage.
The freedom I
have enjoyed this past year is the path to this awareness. It is really awareness more of my Master than
of the enemies, but it includes them in the sense that I see them as defeated
foes. Seeing my Master more clearly,
more consistently I will not fear to engage in life in this world. Evil will not be my path, but peace and joy, even
when surrounded by evil. It is a righteous life of knowing my Master
more. I can’t think of a higher
aspiration or better goal. And I can’t
think of anything else I can do that will affect my neighborhood more. It’s time to put on my swim trunks and dive
into the deep end of the pool! Cannon
Ball!
