Living Wisely in a Wicked World

(LH-Brampton: Oct.15/06; Rev. for Square One, June 24/07)

A young man who had entered a monastery wrote to his father and told him how wonderful it was to be there. Every morning at 2 o'clock the men would arise to chant ancient sacred songs. His father, a wise and thoughtful man, wrote back, "Dear son: Your mother and I are so happy to know that you have found your vocation. But always remember one thing: We too, and many parents like us living in the world, have arisen on numerous occasions at 2 o'clock in the morning to feed our babies, and in the process have found our own vocation equally sacred."

Living a God-honoring life in an evil world is not primarily a matter of a right outer location but of a right inner separation. What's most important is not where we live but how we live. The essence of the Lord Jesus' prayer for His followers in John 17 was this: "Keep them in the world, but keep the world out of them." But how can we maintain this "in the world but not of the world" balance? (ODB, April 26, 1995). By living wisely, the urgency of this counsel becomes more critical when we realize that our world is morally and spiritually deteriorating everyday. Paul's warning in 2Timothy 3:1-5 describes in living color the society of our day. He says to Timothy: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." How are we to live-out our Christianity in this kind of environment? WISELY, Pr.2:12-15 says, "Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways." And where do we get this wisdom? From God who reveals it in His word. Let me give you three principles in the form of exhortation to guide you to live wisely in this wicked world of ours.

1) REMEMBER your CREATOR (Ecc.12:1).

To start off the last chapter of his book, the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes a timely exhortation. It is a call to all God's people, especially to the young. It says, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them...'(12:1). Let's just focus on this 3-word exhortation- "Remember your Creator".

Now, to remember, means more than "not to forget." It's more than "to recall a name , face or an event." It's not like a reminder you write on a piece of paper and tack on your bedroom door, 'Remember God today.' It is not that kind of calling to mind. It is to recognize that person and to act on that person's behalf. (When Pastor Jon says to Carmi, "Remember, I am married to you" not only is she being reminded of their oneness, but also to act on everything that is implied in that relationship). It is more than a passive activity of the mind. It is an active pursuit of the will. You remember the story of Hannah in 1Sam.1, who prayed for a child. In v.19 it says, "...and the Lord remembered her" and she conceived and gave birth to a son. God not only "did not forget her" but acted on her request. God recognized her- that she was barren. He then worked out her request for a son. When the thief on the cross requested Jesus to "remember" him when He comes into His kingdom, implicit to that request is a plea to the Lord to act in mercy and grant him a place in God's kingdom.

To "remember our Creator", is to recognize Him as such and then act decisively on all that His name implies to us in His Word. So every time you obey His commands, trust and believe His promises, seek His guidance, acknowledge His ways you are "remembering your Creator." The question then is this- how do you translate this exhortation "remember your Creator" into a practical, wise living in a wicked world? By building your life upon the foundation of God's Word, you focus on the Lord and the application of His Word to your life (for that is what it means to remember the Lord) you will be spared from the deceptions coming from the world, the flesh and the devil. One of the strongest worldly influences we face here in North America is materialism. It holds the view that happiness in life is only possible when I have all the things I've always wanted- big house, expensive car, a stable job, large bank account, a summer cottage beside the lake. People, would then put their hope in their possessions for security and satisfaction. But that is a very foolish thing to do. To connect happiness with material things cuts across Jesus own words. He says in Lk.12:15 that "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

In other words, even if we could have all the things we've ever wanted, we wouldn't experience what real life is all about. Rather, as those who "remember our Creator" we put our "hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" and not "in wealth which is so uncertain." (1Tim.6:17).

The psalmist testifies in Ps.16:11: "You (God) have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Beloved, let us stop lusting after earthly allurements. Let us stop draining all our energy, spending our life chasing after fleeting earthly treasures. They will never satisfy or give lasting joy and contentment. Instead, let us "remember our Creator"; let us enjoy our Maker; let us focus on what He desires for us in His Word, then we can be that man in Psalm 1. "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." This is the person who "remembers His Creator." This is wise living in a wicked world. Then the great assurance of the last verse (6), "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish..."

2) RENEW your MIND (Rom.12:2a).

The second exhortation that would help us live wisely in this wicked world of ours is this- renew your mind. Rom.12:2a says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The Living Bible translates this verse this way, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think."

When Paul talks about the word "world" he is not referring to people or mankind- "for God so loved the world" (Jn.3:16). Nor is He speaking of the "physical world" we are living- for despite what humankind has done and is doing to this world, it is still God's beautiful creation. Look at the wonder of Niagara Falls, the changing colors of leaves in autumn. No, this is not the world that we are to renounce. Paul is talking about the evil system that dominates society...the philosophies, values, priorities, ways, customs that are opposed to God. This is the "world" that we are not to conform our lives. We are not to allow this world system to squeeze us into its mold. For one thing, it is controlled by Satan. 1Jn.5:19 says, "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." As believers we cannot serve both God and the world. The truth is that "if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1Jn.2:15b). James goes further to say that, "friendship with the world is hatred toward God and anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" (Jas.4:4).

But how can we get away from the influence of the world since we are in it and among its wicked subjects? Complementary to the charge not to be "conformed" to the pattern of this world is the command to be "transformed." One is negative, the other positive. And both must go together. This transformation occurs in the mind. Mind in Scripture can also mean "heart." Why the mind or heart? It is the battleground of spiritual conflict. Any influence that controls the mind, controls the whole person. Christ tells His disciples in Mt.15:18-20 that "the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts (the heart doesn't think, the mind does= heart is synonymous to mind), murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'." What we feed our minds comes out in our conduct and lifestyle. Our mind is like a computer- garbage in, garbage out. That's the main reason why our mind has to be transformed. It is not enough that we deny the world from molding our thought life- we need the transformation of our mind; our mind must be renewed. You know "babe" the pig star in the movie of the same name? If you allow "babe" to roam the slums of India or the Philippines she will find her way into the dirt. No amount of bubble bath or perfume can keep her from wallowing in the mud. Why, that's her nature. Her nature must be changed. So too, our mind must be radically renewed. How?

a) We submit our mind under the control of the God's Spirit. 2Cor.10:3-5: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." b) we feed our mind with godly things. Phil.4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." What are we allowing into the recesses of our minds? Today, television plays a major role in framing the minds of everyone in the family. Are you, Dads, Moms careful and watchful what your family is watching? In Ps.119:37, the psalmist realizes this danger so he prays, "Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." It is when we refuse our minds to be the dumping ground of the world's waste and make it a depository of God's word that our minds are renewed, then we are able to live wisely in this wicked world.

Farmers in Zentsuji, Japan, are preparing full-grown melons for shipment- only these are no ordinary melons- they're square. They were placed in tempered-glass cubes while they were still growing. Why would anyone want a square watermelon? They're much easier to store in a refrigerator! It's amusing to think of how a natural round watermelon can become square because of the shape of the container in which it's grown. This reminds (us) of the forces in the world that exert their influence on us and attempt to shape us. That's why we are exhorted not to "be conformed to this world" but to be "transformed by the renewing of our mind." The idea is rather simple: We are to allow the transforming Word of God to work within us and produce outward results, instead of permitting external pressures to shape us. If we meditate on God's Word daily, it will influence our thoughts and help us grow to be more like Jesus Christ (2Cor.3:18). Then we will act in a manner that pleases Him. Pressures of the world will continue to try to shape our character, but they will not succeed if God's Word is changing us from within. (ODB, June 3,2002).

3) REDEEM the TIME (Eph.5:15-16).

The third exhortation we need to heed is this- redeem the time. Eph.5:15-16(KJV) says, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." To redeem the time simply means "to make the most of every opportunity." And living wisely is to make the most of every God-given opportunity presented to us. The reason according to the passage is that, "the days are evil"- meaning the time we are living is wicked. What are the opportunities that God has given us that we should make the most while we are still living? There is the opportunity of living for the Lord in all areas of our lives. Whether at work, in school, at home, in the gym, in shopping malls, in parties, while riding the bus or subway, playing or watching your favorite sports with your friends and neighbors and many more venues, you can let your light so shine, that people may see your godly life in Christ and glorify God and be drawn to Him.

Three key principles must be present for one to be effective in redeeming the time or making the most of our opportunity.

1) Live a life of love (5:2) "...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Without Christ's love consuming us we won't have the passion to make a difference for Him. On the passage about us believers, being ministers of reconciliation, Paul says in 2Cor.5:14: "For Christ's love compels us..." It is our highest motive. "Love this world through me Lord. Love this world through me. Broken lives are everywhere, lost in sin and in dark despair. Only you can help them, save and set them free. Use my life to reach them, Lord. Love this world through me."

2) Live as children of light (5:8). This means that our lives must be beyond reproach, characterized by goodness, righteousness and truth. This is so important if we want to be credible in our relationship with people around us. 1Pet.2:12 says, "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." What kind of life are you reflecting to your friends? Are you reflecting the character of Jesus, the light of the world?

3) Live in the Spirit (5:18b). "Instead be filled with the Spirit." To be filled or controlled by the Spirit is synonymous to living in the power of the Spirit. As a Christian, you cannot live life on your own, you will miserably fail. If a child of God is living by the Spirit of God he can accomplish the work of God that will result to the glory of God. How can I live in the Spirit? Someone may ask. It is to live by faith in Christ; letting Christ occupy the driver's seat (Gal.2:20).

Three exhortations for wise living in a wicked world of generation XYZ - Remember your Creator, Renew your Mind, Redeem the Time. Will you listen and obey? Amen!!!