Living a Godly Life in an Ungodly World
Christians can look confidently toward a future with Christ that will be free of the problems and pain we face in this world.
But what do we do in the meantime?
We live in a world that does nothing to encourage our walk with Christ. In fact, many times the world actively opposes anyone who seeks to live a godly life for Christ, but we can stand strong.
In the Old Testament, the life of King Asa shows us how to face life head on, and his example points to the value of focusing on God and living in dependence on Him.
By the way he lived, God used King Asa to influence those around him, as well as future generations. Even though we too will face challenges, we can live godly lives.
The Point: Make God the focus of your life.
How: Pursue Godliness
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 14:1-7
14 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God:
3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest.
7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
How to Live Godly in an Ungodly World {Be Transformed}
Living a holy life goes far beyond our behaviors alone.
We live holy lives because God called us to live holy lives
Romans 12:1-2 says:
“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.” (Romans 12:1-2 ESV
But first, a little background on the text.
Romans Chapter 1 alone outlines the gross depravity and sinfulness of mankind and how far we have fallen from God.
Yet when we get to Romans Chapter 12:1, Paul appeals, and some verses say he “urges” the believers in Rome to live holy lives.
Not only that but to present their bodies as living sacrifices unto the Lord.
We are called, as believers, to live holy lives no matter how sinful our past is, no matter how dark the culture is that we live in, or no matter what we were taught when we were children.
God is calling us to live holy as an act of worship to him.
LIVING SACRIFICES
God wants us alive, and to live and think for Him. He wants our whole being, our whole life, our heart; it's our mind, and our desires.
NOT CONFORM BUT TRANSFORM
We have to understand is that every single day we are being molded and transformed and shaped by many forces that we probably don't even recognize.
Paul says in today's scripture not to conform to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
The word transform means to change into another form.
Living for God in an Ungodly World
All Christians will be faced with decisions that put their faith to the test. Some will be asked to pay the ultimate price of their life whereas others will face paying a lesser price.
What lessons can we learn from the past that will enable us to live without compromise in an ungodly world?
In Daniel chapter 3, we read of the choice facing three young men
When Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had been transported from their homes to a foreign city with a totally different culture. The intention was that they would be immersed into a different way of thinking.
But the attempt to indoctrinate the young men into Babylonian thought was resisted by the young men who were resolved to be obedient to the one true God. Early in the indoctrination process they refused to compromise and eat food that would defile them (Daniel 1:8).
When the call to worship at a gold statue came and people all around them bowed down to worship, the three young men did not (Daniel 3:7). They made a choice, with serious repercussions, that showed where their loyalties lay.
How were they able, by their actions, to make such a courageous and bold statement? What lessons can Christians learn from their example?
There are three principles that we can learn from:
1. They knew there was something more than this world
In Daniel chapter 2, we can read that King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream, given to him by God. The content and interpretation of the dream was provided by Daniel (Daniel 2:31-45). By God’s enabling, Daniel was able to inform King Nebuchadnezzar about the future of this world, that had been shown to him in a statue made of a variety of materials. He was the head of the Babylonian empire, represented by a gold head. This authority had been given to him by God but it would not be everlasting as there would be a succession of empires (Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman) that would finally be replaced by the Kingdom of God.
“And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44).
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had their faith reinforced and strengthened when they heard God’s word about future events. They understood that the empires of this world would not last and although they were to be responsible, hard-working and respectful citizens their real citizenship was in heaven. As citizens of the Kingdom of God they knew, by faith, that their future was assured and secure.
Knowledge about the future empowered them to live uncompromisingly in the present.
Likewise, the study and knowledge about future events should have an impact on how the Christian can live a godly life in an ungodly world.
"Knowledge about the future empowered them to live uncompromisingly in the present."
2. They regarded loyalty to God above their own welfare
Like everyone else Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had a set of values which would dictate how they lived their lives.
Whatever is of absolute value to us will dictate how we live. If we believe that our own welfare is the most important thing, then our decisions on what to do and what not to do in life will be determined by that belief.
If we value our own comfort above loyalty to God then we will never share the gospel with an unbeliever, in fear that we may appear offensive. We will never speak against an ungodly culture that promotes sexual immorality, if we value our own popularity and desire to be liked above loyalty to God.
3. They trusted in God but did not presume on Him.
When it was noticed that the three young men did not bow down, they were brought before the King and given one more chance to save their own lives by bowing down to the gold statue.
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." (Daniel 3:16b-18).
They knew that God could save them from being burned to death but they did not presume that He would. They spoke with respect to the King who was threatening to end their life on earth but they were trusting in God, who has the ultimate power.
Against such men King Nebuchadnezzar had limited power. Even if their lives on earth were cut short they knew they would go to be in the presence of God.
God had given them the needed grace at the needed time to be able to stand firm in their loyalty to Him. In Daniel 3:23-27, we read how God miraculously kept them safe – not from the fire, but in and through the fire.
This trial had certainly strengthened and deepened their faith in God. The development of character and the strengthening of faith occurs when the believer, in the midst of trials, remains loyal to God and shows the reality of what is of ultimate value to them. Many years after Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced the fiery furnace the apostle Peter wrote to believers, who faced different trials.
“that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1st Peter 1:7).
The genuineness of faith can be proved only by fire. In times of comfort and ease it can be easy to be a Christian but in times of trial the reality of faith is tested. The great assurance that the believer has is that genuine faith will result in praise, honour, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Conclusion
It has never been easy to live for God in an ungodly world. Nor was it ever intended to be.
The example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego has been provided so that the believer might learn from it and apply the same principles in their life.
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4).
