Don’t Wallow In It

Many folks know that I grew up on a pig farm. When you imagine a pig farm most think of the mud, slop and just nastiness that comes with it. Yes it does have all of those things. You know what though? When I went out in public you couldn’t tell that I lived on a pig farm. Yes I lived there, but I didn’t live in the mud with them, I lived in a house separated from them. When I did have to work with them, I took care to try not to get filthy. After all, I didn’t wallow in the nastiness that the pigs rolled in. I stayed on my feet and tended to my business and if I did get dirty, I cleaned up. 

In Luke 15 we read the story of the prodigal son. He left his fathers house to fulfill his own selfish desires. He ends up in a pig pen. This is a type of the world.

We read this verse in 1 John 2:15 (KJV)  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. I would like to explain this to those who may not know what “the world” in this verse means. This is not in reference to the physical world as in God’s creation. Nor is it in reference to the people in the world. This is talking about the sinful nature and system of rebellion against God, dominated by sin, pride, lust, greed, and self-worship. It is further explained in the next verse. 1 John 2:16 (KJV) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. The lust of the flesh being sinful physical desires. The lust of the eyes being covetousness and desire for material things. The pride of life being arrogance, boasting, and a desire for status.

James would ask, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy (James 4:4 NET). Those are strong words. To do something that causes you to become the enemy of God. We must understand that this is talking about making ourselves acquainted with sin. So do not be partners with them. For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (Ephesians 5:7-8 ISV).

We must instead determine what pleases the Lord, and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people in secret (Ephesians 5:10-12 ISV). 

All of this means that there are things as followers of Christ that we cannot participate in. Jesus said I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world (John 17:14-16 KJV). We must be in the world, but not of the world. It can be simply stated that we cannot change the world while trying to be like it. So yes we may be in this world that is full of sin, but we don’t have to wallow in it.

Romans 12:2 KJV And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Peter 4:1-2 NHEB 1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2 that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for human desires, but for the will of God.