The human experience of life on this earth is one where one is given the choice of how they view the world, how they choose to believe the world works, and how they decide to spend the time given to them on this planet. When someone comes under the conviction of the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus as Savior, the life that person has been given is no longer their own; instead, it is one no longer spent living in the world but living not of this world.
Kingdoms of Heaven and Earth
Since Adam and Eve left Eden, man has sought to conquer and obtain dominion over the land. Over time this claim over land evolved into boundaries and borders of kingdoms, countries, and territories, but there is a greater Kingdom than all the earth holds, and that is in Heaven. When someone decides to give their life to Christ and follow Him for all their days, they become members of the Kingdom of Heaven.
John 15:19 explains it: "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." When you live as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven more than a citizen of the world, you begin to see the world differently. Your heart and outlook on things are no longer limited to what you can see, touch, and feel, but instead, you are given the ability to grasp true reality through the lens of Christ. As a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, you can experience true freedom.
The Lens of Christ
When a person views the world through the lens of Christ, they are no longer held back to the fleeting and shallow perceptions of limited understanding of this world. Part of living not of this world and viewing society, people, and situations through the lens of Christ is understanding there is far more at play than just people themselves. Ephesians 6:12 explains, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
There is far more in the unseen than the seen; to think otherwise is to fall into the fallacy the Enemy desires us to cling to. This is not to leave us in dismay either, for it is not upon our shoulders that such evils are conquered. It is through leaning on Christ and looking to His authority and dominion over Heaven and Earth to defeat the darkness that seeks to overwhelm and bring us down. When we choose to view things through the lens of Christ, we are also granted serenity in knowing He is in control. 2 Kings 6:15-20 offers us a story in which God allowed one of His children to see the truth of the unseen:
"When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?" the servant asked.
"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, "Strike this army with blindness." So, he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked."
Invite the Lord to give you His lens so that you, too, may witness the truth in situations beyond your control.
How We Treat Others
When we live not of this world, we change our approach to interacting with and treating others. This does not mean that we are no longer human and without the ability to sin, but we have a new nature and method of how we live. We answer to God Himself, not only our own consciences. Romans 12:1-2 extends, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
We put this into proper practice by inviting the Lord into every facet, relationship, and part of life. It is leaning upon His wisdom, direction, and guidance instead of our own in how we operate. This can often feel counter to how we would choose to do things, but we can rest assured that when we submit and obey in the way He would lead, we will find securely the best and smoothest road forward. That does not mean it will be easy, but it does mean it is the right thing to do. How we treat others represents Christ, and we must keep in mind that we are His vessels here on earth.
This Life Is Short
Our time spent on earth is short. King Solomon stated in summation in Ecclesiastes that life is in itself very short and fleeting. In another way, we can consider the wise words of Gandalf in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
In this life, we have choices, and we can live for man, ourselves, or God. When we live for man, we exhaust ourselves people pleasing and find ourselves beholding to what man thinks about us. It is a never-ending and anxious place to keep everyone happy all the time, and it can never be obtained. You will never please everyone in your life. When you live for yourself, you make choices and decisions based on your own selfish desires and will, more often than not, be left with dissatisfaction, disappointment, and a desolate outlook on life. The third option is to live for God. This means dying to one's self and sometimes sacrificing or giving up what was sought or obtained in living for man and oneself. When you live for God, you will experience true and uninhibited peace and freedom to move forward. Living not of this world looks different, but perhaps the world could use some different.
Living not of this world is not for the weak of heart, but for those who want to experience life in full abundance. John 10:10 is the heart's cry that when you live a life fully following Christ, you will see and grasp fully all that He has for you In this life. It will cost you friends, relationships, dreams, and more, but there is no greater joy and reward than truly knowing your Creator personally and intimately and seeing that there is far more to this life than just this world.
Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Her works have been featured on "The 700 Club Interactive," “Jesus Calling Blog,” and “Coffee and Bible Time,” among several notable outlets. She served as a mentor for young women for several years and enjoys challenging women to develop deeper relationships with God and to live fearlessly and authentically. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, having genuine chats over coffee, and woodworking. Her new book, The Wallflower That Bloomed, is available everywhere now. Connect with Cally: @CallyLogan Instagram CallyLogan.com