What World Are You Living For?

Many stories have been told of people visiting other “worlds”; traveling by some (usually unknown) means to another planet, universe, dimension etc. Usually, their time in that other world changes them, and often they try to find a way to return. Their life in this world is lived in light of that other world. What world are you living for?

I recently heard a story about a man who had been friends with the evangelist David Livingstone. They had parted ways when David became a missionary because the friend thought he was crazy. Years later, after David’s death, the friend was remorseful because he had been focusing on the wrong world.

John 1:9-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

John 8:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Jesus came into this world to bring us light. He is not of this world, but He made it. He came from “another world.”

John 3:16-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

Jesus came because He loves us, because God loves us. He doesn’t want sin to separate us for eternity. He came to bring us a choice; to love and follow Him, to accept the Light, or to love this world and reject the light. The trouble with light is it exposes things as they are, it makes everything visible. It shows sin for what it is. Those who don’t love the Light, love sin, and to have it exposed as the evil it is is uncomfortable, shaming, even enraging. We have a choice when faced with this conviction; to acknowledge the truth and reject sin, or to reject the truth and cling to sin. This is the point of salvation, where we cross over from death to life.

Colossians 3:1-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Is salvation the end? Is that where the battle with this world ends and we go to live in the other world (heaven)? No it is not. Salvation is the beginning. Salvation is where our war with this world starts, and it won’t end until we reach heaven. The ruler of this world (satan) doesn’t want to lose any to God. He doesn’t want any to be saved. He will fight to keep us away from the Light which he hates. And if he can’t keep us from salvation, he will keep us bound and weak, tied up by this world so we will be useless to God. He will keep us with our minds set on the things of this world.

Philippians 3:17-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

We need to live in view of eternity, in view of the world that really matters. When we experience God, we get a taste of the “other world” which will change us forever. We need to live with that as our goal, as our principle, as our deciding factor. We need to live as if we have died and Christ lives through us. That is what is really important. The things of this world will end. They are temporary. God’s world will last forever. That is the world that matters.

Which world do you live for?