Romans 12:2 (NKJV) – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The world we live in tells us that conformity is good. Conformity breeds popularity, and popularity satisfies a desire in us to belong and to be accepted. The turmoil in the world now mirrors this truth. Conformity equates to safety, protection, health, and preservation. God also has a term that is defined the same way, and that is salvation.
Conformity leads you to a place of being welcomed and accepted in the sight of the world. Salvation leads you to the place of being welcomed and accepted in the sight of God. Both offer for the needs within us to be satisfied, but only one is eternal, the other is simply temporal.
Where is our trust? Who or what do we rely on for wisdom?
God’s ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts. So, what do we do when His ways look strangely different than the ways of this world? All it takes is reading just a few chapters in the gospels to see that Jesus responded to the world in ways the world could not understand. He spit into the dirt to create a mud which he placed on the eyes of a blind man to heal him and restore his sight. He loved the sinner, ate with tax collectors, and redeemed prostitutes. He reached out and touched the leper with healing in his hands. He chose not to condemn but to forgive.
We are called to live large in the power and wisdom of God. We have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness. We are to be transformed into the image and likeness of our God. This is our part – to know Him, believe Him, and walk with Him. Our part is trust Him, even when His ways don’t make sense.
We live in a world that mocks the one that does not conform. Hatred is spewed towards those who think and act differently. The reality is that it will take courage, strength, and conviction to stand with the Lord and choose to separate yourself from the world. It will also require a right perspective of God.
God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. When things look scary, God is good. When your faced with a difficult trial or circumstance, God is good. When you are confused and don’t understand, God is good. In fact, He is the only one that is good. And not only is He good, but He is amazing and awesome! He works miracles, and He loves beyond our capacity to even know what love is. He created the universe with a word, and He upholds the entire world in the palm of His hand. He forgives our most grievous sin, and He empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
It is knowing this truth that will set you free from the desire to conform to this world and its ways. The goodness and awesomeness of God draws us to Him in surrender, trust, and faith. When we seek Him, we find Him, and when we find Him, we love Him. And when we love Him, His ways will teach us, guide us, and lead us into all righteousness, and His thoughts will be shared with us, reminding us of His love for us and His plan to give us both a future and a hope.