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Social Drinking: "Are You an Individual or Part of the Crowd?"
by Warren E. Berkley
One of America's most prolific Western writers once wrote a novel that included a man called "Mr. Passin' Through". He had earned this name by never staying long in one place, was just always "passing through". In many ways, he is not to be compared to one of God's children, but in one respect, he is like the Christian. We, too, are "passin' through".
After Eden's disaster, the earth was cursed, and from that time forward was never intended as the permanent home of mankind. A major effort of heaven has been to help us separate ourselves from the world..."love not the world...the world passeth away, and the lust thereof.." (1 Jn 2:15-17). Our carnal, fleshly nature is at odds with the desired direction of our affections. In Col 3:1, Paul tells us to "set our affections on things above, not on the things of the earth.." Our only hope is in gaining a heavenly body, which is adapted to a heavenly home (1 Cor 15:31ff), and such an ambition must become the focus of our lives.
Peter tells us that we are "strangers and pilgrims" upon the earth (1 Pet 2:12). We are truly just "passin' through". Becoming a child of God will locate us in "heavenly places", even here on earth (Eph 1:3), and marks the beginning of a life to be lived looking toward a better place. Just as physical "pilgrims" and "aliens" only "sojourn" in lands other than their own, so children of God "sojourn" on earth as they reach toward their heavenly home. Though forced by circumstances to live in the world, the child of God must come to think less and less of it, and more and more of "heaven". As one's life grows in Christ, he must be less and less attracted by the material life, and those desires which focus upon the flesh.
The world has its own "words", which often must be avoided by the Christian. It has its own entertainment, which contains elements that destroy the spiritual character of the Christian. It has its own dress, which is more than not likely to be "unbecoming" for the modest child of God. It has its own outlook on life, and a certain attitude about things like envy, jealousy, and revenge. To the world, greed is normal, and covetousness is acceptable. For the Christian, he trusts God for material things, and puts the kingdom first (Mt 6:33).For worldly people, earthly success is the motor that drives their lives. For the Christian, it is the desire to be like God that consumes him and orders his way.
All earthly things pass away, and we must not become attached to them. With Abraham, we must "look for a city" that is built by God (Heb 11:8-14). Thinking this way makes it a simple thing to live by divine truth, and keep our focus away from the appeal of the world. Do you do that?
Other Articles by Paul Earnhart
A Wholesome Respect for Temptation
Strange
The Search for Assurance
A Living, Transforming Hope
Sin Doesn't Work
You are invited to The Annual Auburn Weekend Study - January 16-17, 2015
