To Be Continued: The World Today

“And this world will fade away…”

I don’t mean to stereotype, but in case you haven’t noticed, the world is getting worse in many ways. This isn’t an excuse to make our actions seem justifiable (“Oh, it’s because of the world…”). In his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey says, “As soon as we say the problem is out there, that’s the problem.”

As Christians, we can’t hide in our bunkers (if you have one) and pretend the world will fix itself. No one but Jesus can restore the world. For the time being, we must live with an end-times mindset, regardless of how far away the end is. We should use our God-given gifts to make a difference in this dark world. We must not be like the unwise servant from the Parable of the Talents, who hid his gift in a “bunker”.

I know it’s hard to figure out where you should begin. If you really look, the world is overwhelming. There are so many issues and problems. Here’s an idea: Let’s ask the best question you can ask: What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)?

1. Warship > Cruise Ship.

Over the last couple of years, a theme at our church has been to live with a warship – rather than a cruise ship – mentality. See, a cruise ship isn’t designed to defend itself. It’s also made for pleasure, not conflict. Conversely, a battleship is designed to fight the enemy. Everyone aboard is trained and knows the mission they must execute.

In the same way, Christians cannot expect to cruise through life – we must be ready for battle. God is not okay with us hiding away, waiting for His return. We must be proactive, not reactive. In Luke 12:4-5 (NIV) Jesus says,

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

We must live as warships, prepared for spiritual warfare, not as cruise ships, drifting through the ocean.

2. Watch out and pray.

Matthew 26:41 (NIV) tells us to, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The best thing we can do in life is pray. And you know what’s even more awesome? Anyone can do it – healthy or sick, strong or weak, young or old. If you’re familiar with the story of Joni Eareckson Tada, who at the age of 17 was paralyzed from the waist downward, you’ll know what I mean – no one can take away our ability to pray.

No matter your spiritual, physical, or mental health, you can pray. In his book Man’s Search For Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl says, “Human beings can take everything away from us except one thing – how we choose to respond.”

• Note: Whenever I reference a book, it means either myself or a close family member has read it and recommended its message.

Prayer helps us fight temptation, it draws us and others closer to God, and anyone can do it. Plus it ensures you’ll never again suffer from boredom. Prayer can be simple or complex – whatever you prefer. A great place to start is, “Jesus, thank you for…” or “Jesus, what do you love about me?” or, “Jesus, I need your help today.”

God doesn’t ask someone to do everything, but He does ask everyone to do something. “Each one, reach one,” as the saying goes.

3. Joy > Sorrow.

There are seasons where I’m more inclined to choose sorrow. Everyone will go through a hard season at one time or another. When things get difficult, we can either sink into sorrow or draw closer to God. Psalm 16:11 (NIV) says, “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”

As Christians, we must be known for our joy, not our sorrow. It isn’t easy, but we must live a life of Jesus, Others, You (JOY). Non-Christians will never become Christians if we don’t stand out for Christ. This does not mean “fake it till you make it”; it means tapping into the incredible joy God offers us.

Knowing Jesus is the greatest joy. When things get hard and the world is dark, turn to Him, not the things of earth. As Christians, we are to be known for our love and joy. When we feel down, Jesus is there for us. So are family members, godly friends, and pastors.

This last month I’ve been memorizing James 1. It’s a great passage, although it certainly goes against what most of the world believes. Verses 2-3 (NLT) declare, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

In hardship, join me in choosing the joy of the Lord.

4. Do hard things.

Which of these two phrases sounds more appealing?

• In this world, God calls us to do what’s easy.

• In this world, God calls us to do what’s hard.

I bet the first seems “easier”, but that’s not reality. The greatest causes are always the most difficult, otherwise everyone would participate. God calls us to do hard things. If we didn’t, why should He allow us in Heaven, the home of all that is good? After reading Alex & Brett Harris’s book Do Hard Things, I have a greater vision for what this looks like.

Doing hard things means stepping out of your comfort zone. For me, that includes serving with Grade 1-4 students at Kids Church. It’s not always easy, but I believe God has called me to do it. Doing hard things also means stepping into entirely new areas, such as The WLF Podcast. It means doing what’s difficult even if I may not succeed, or even if only a few people listen to an episode that took hours to produce.

Doing hard things means, well, whatever the opposite of doing easy things is. It means giving up your time and resources to serve the Lord in all areas. Notice it doesn’t say try hard things, it says do hard things. As Yoda said, “Do or do not, there is no try.”

WWJD?

I’m not trying to serve the Lord, I’m not trying to serve at church, I’m not trying to start a podcast, I’m doing it. You’ll never succeed in spreading light in a dark world by trying to make a difference. You make a difference by doing.

That, my friend, is the answer to WWJD. Jesus would embrace a warship > cruise ship mindset, He would watch out and pray, He would choose joy > sorrow, and He would do hard things. Will you?

The world isn’t getting better – that job is up to Christians. We need to be a beacon of light – a beacon for Christ. As Lady Galadriel said in J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary Lord of the Rings…

“May it be a light for you in dark places when all other lights go out.”