1.3 Be Apart from the World

Being apart from the world is a topic that is taught often to groups of preteens and teenagers, and so I heard many discussions on it as I was working on this notebook at age 13. There are several changes in pens here, showing that I came back to this list again and again as I listened to the lessons being taught. I may have considered it overtaught or cliche at times, but learning about being separate from the world was valuable and necessary. In a public middle school, there was a dramatically widening gap between me and my worldly friends as we discussed cursing, music, dancing, boys, and the Bible. I was learning that it takes effort to stand out from what the world approves, and that I would have to explain my choices to do so. It wouldn't just be one decision, but small, daily things. In some areas I was consistent in my actions and discussions, in some areas it took practice to understand and act on seeking spiritual things rather than fleshly things. These general verses simply outline that there is a difference between God and the world, and exhort us to choose Him.

• 1 John 2:15-17
• 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
• 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
• 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
• James 4:4
• 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
• Romans 12:2
• 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect
• Colossians 3:2,5
• 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
• 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
• Titus 2:12
• [encourage the young women ...] 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
• 2 Corinthians 6:17
• 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean, And I will welcome you."
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
• 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
• 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
• 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
• Romans 8:5-8
• 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
• 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
• 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
• 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
• Colossians 3:1-2
• 1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
• 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
• 1 Peter 1:14
• 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
• 1 John 4:4-6
• 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
• 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
• 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
• 1 John 5:4-5
• 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
• 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The world is associated with the ideas of fleshly and carnal things - sinful things. God gives us desires and needs, but also gives us boundaries for those desires. Satan tempts us to go beyond God's boundaries. He tempts us to put the thoughts and desires of our physical bodies and daily lives above seeking God. If we do this, if we live in the flesh, we cannot please God. The people of the world live thinking about their fleshly bodies... they do what makes them happy, what feels good, what they want to do. If we do this, we are living without God! We cannot be one with Him if our hearts are set on this earthly life and meeting our earthly desires.

When we change our hearts to seek God and to seek spiritual things, we are transformed. We leave behind our former life and subject ourselves to the laws of God. We bury our old man of sin and are raised up to walk a new life. As we walk, we focus our hearts and minds on "things above" - on love, peace, truth, Jesus, heaven, and most of all on God. As we change ourselves to be more like Christ, to be more like God, our lives change so that we bring Them glory. This change and this separation from the mainstream school of thought stands out. That can bring persecution and stigma - which is why this is so often taught to those young Christians dealing with the contexts of school and peer pressure. Through faith and focus, even those times be times of transformation rather than conformation, and times of growth that glorify God.