I’ve been thinking about the world a lot lately. It’s a dark place. Cursed. Not what it was intended to be.

And yet, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us… not just so we will be with Him for eternity… but so we can have hope, peace, and love now. Here. In this cursed land.

That truth has inspired a new series I’ve recently begun writing. The main character is Colleen who appears in Astray and Aloft. She will set off from Ariboslia, through the megalith, to a new world. A world under a curse. A world where no one knows God.

Except Colleen.

How will she function in such a place, so different from her home? How will she be in their world and not become a part of it? How will she affect it, without being affected by it? How will she use the light God has given her and share it with others? Especially with all the other challenges she’ll face.

This is a huge struggle for Christians today. We know this is not our home and many of us go one of two ways: either we become part of the world or we isolate ourselves. It’s as if we’ve given up. We’re curled up in the fetal position, waving a white flag, waiting for Jesus to rescue us.

But we could have a long wait. What should we do during that time?

#1: Don’t act like unbelievers

“Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” – 1 Peter 2:11-12

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

#2: Don’t love the world

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17

“You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” – James 4:4

#3: Love Others

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” – John 13:34

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8

#4: Share what God has done for you

#5: Reflect God’s light

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” – Matthew 5:14-16

I will attempt to keep these things in mind as I write Colleen’s story and in my own walk. It’s so much easier said than done!

What about you? If you’re human, you struggle in this world. If you’re a believer trying to follow Jesus… even more so. And yet, if you are truly walking with God you can have peace in the darkness. You must if you want to know God’s will for you and to harness His power to affect change. I pray that God would make His will clear to each of us as we attempt to love like Jesus in a fallen world, waiting for our true home.

You are loved,

J F Rogers