Who Lives That Way? (The World)

Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness." (1 Corinthians 3:18-19 NLT)

All too often, we look at the events of this world as somehow driving our walk together with God.  We allow wars and attacks to drive us to fear or anger.  We allow political elections and human leaders to inspire us to places God would never want.  We point to the economy as a reason to aspire to greediness or to wallow in self-pity.  The problem with letting the world drive our walk with God is that the world doesn't walk with God.

During the third year of King Jehoiakim's reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. (Daniel 1:1-2 NLT)

Daniel and his friends were taken captive because their nation had stopped following God.  They were defeated, captured, deported, then brought into the capitol city of their enemies and trained to be good Babylonians.  If ever there was a person who could blame "world events" for abandoning God, it would have been Daniel and company.

But, they didn't.  Rather than walking away from God, they chose to walk with God even in their difficult, world created, circumstances.  They didn't eat the food that God told them was "unclean" and "unholy" for them to eat.  Later in the story, Daniel refused to pray to false gods as well.  The world's circumstances didn't matter to him.  He still walked together with God.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

Walking away from God because of world events is just an excuse.  A person who wants to walk together with God will find a way to walk together with God, regardless of the circumstances.  Don't compare the life He wants for you to the world and say, "Who lives that way?"  Instead, compare your life to God's picture and ask yourself, "How can I live that way?"  Then, start doing it.