What does a person who is "displaced" or separated from God look like?

As we read through Chapter 3 of Romans, we see that all of us have sinned. "All of us" means both those who appear to enjoy order and affluence as well as those who struggle in the chaos and privation of a refugee camp, wondering where the next meal will come from. All we have to do is look at the Ten Commandments: "Do not steal, do not covet," etc. As we reflect honestly, the appropriate question is not, "Have I ever disobeyed one of these?" but rather, "How many minutes ago was it that I disobeyed one of these?'

How do we view those who are spiritually displaced? We talk about "loving God" as being one of the core beliefs of a Christ-follower here at Wheaton Bible Church. Yet those who are displaced from God cannot truly know or love Him. More than that, they are under judgment from God. They are permanently displaced and there is nothing they can do about their situation. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, given to us by God's grace that allows us to come home to our Father.

Whatever our position in life, it is this sin that separates us from God. Just as physically or politically displaced people may be powerless to change their location or status, so it is with us in our spiritual displacement from God. We cannot change our position with Him. It is only through the work of Jesus on the cross that a change from alienation to reunion is possible.

The whole world is spiritually displaced from the Kingdom of Heaven apart from Christ. Paradoxically, once we receive new citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus, we are no longer permanent residents of this fallen earth (John 17). As Christ followers, we are now citizens of heaven and become aliens and strangers-temporary residents--on this earth

When you fly back to the U.S. from a foreign country, with bags in hand, you look for the passport control station that says "U.S. Citizens." You hand your passport to the officer who then looks through the pages and, with a note of authority, stamps it and says to you, "Welcome home!" There's something very special about those words.

It was God's plan that we should be in fellowship with Him, but as we read yesterday, our sin both separated and alienated us from God. How tragic it would be if the story ended there. It does not. Because of God's great love for us, He sent His Son to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Although the justice of God demands that sin be addressed, the love of God provides a way for us to reestablish the fellowship with God that He intended. In Colossians 1:22 Paul tells us that we are "reconciled" to God because of what Christ did for us on the cross. What that means is that God views us, "holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." This very special relationship comes only by faith and by asking for it. Romans 10:13 says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

John MacArthur tells the story of a California man who was encouraging a co-worker from his law firm to come and visit his church. After finding out the name of the church, the co-worker adamantly refused. The church member said, "Can I ask why?"

The man at the law firm replied, "Because the most corrupt attorney in this state attends that church and I don't want anything to do with it."

After hearing this story, the senior pastor of the church stepped up to the pulpit the following Sunday, relayed the story to the congregation, and said, "Whoever you are . . . get your act together! Your behavior is making it impossible to share the Gospel."

In this passage, Peter is speaking to his fellow believers who are living in foreign lands. Peter reminds these believers, like the pastor in California, that their behavior matters. It will either draw people toward Christ or push them away. In 1 Peter chapters 1 and 2, he starts by reminding them of the Gospel- that Christ's death and resurrection has given them a new identity as God's holy people. They are to be a royal priesthood, a holy people set apart to imitate God, showing their neighbors His love and mercy.

Peter equips his fellow believers by giving them the tools to do this. First, Peter says to keep away from worldly desires by getting rid of evil behavior. Secondly, he says to live properly, be obedient to the Scriptures, think clearly, be self-controlled, and love, love, love others.

In the same way, we as believers are living as foreigners, in a land that is not our ultimate home. As believers, we are also called to believe the Gospel, be imitators of God, and reflect His love and mercy to the world around us. When we live this way, our unbelieving neighbors will see, through us, a reflection of our God in heaven. Let's not be like the corrupt attorney, but live in such a way that people will want to come and be a part of this royal priesthood of believers.

"I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body." (Philippians 1:23-24)

Just about everything in life involves a decision: buying a doughnut, picking what clothes to wear, spending unexpected time, texting words, reacting to another's words, paying down a bill, taking a medication, approaching a yellow light, and so on.

We've established that as believers in Christ we are aliens/strangers in this world-that's a given, but we don't always look that way. So-how does such a person look? In order to live like we genuinely are aliens and strangers to our fallen culture, we must make what some describe as, "soul-conscious choices."

A soul-conscious choice is a wise decision that nurtures not only our soul, but the souls of others. As a follower of Christ, the apostle Paul wanted to live with Christ for eternity and free himself from the troubles and restraints of earthly existence. But, upon deliberation, he stated the value of continuing to live out his life on Earth, for Paul knew that was the Lord's will for him. Clearly, God had a plan for Paul to continue taking the Gospel to places where it had yet to be heard.

Observe some soul-conscious choices Moses made (Hebrews 11:24-28): he said "no" to royalty and "yes" to slavery; "no" to momentary pleasures and "yes" to mistreatment; "no" to wealth and honor and "yes" to poverty and disgrace; "no" to lavish palace life and "yes" to desert living; "no" to despair and "yes" to the unseen Christ; "no" to worshiping the false gods of Egypt and "yes" to proclaiming God's name in all the earth; "no" to prime rib and "yes" to manna!

The late Henri Nouwen, whose writings have influenced many Christian readers, was asked on national TV why he had chosen to leave a prestigious Ivy League school to serve in an obscure center for people with mental challenges. His reply, "We decided it would not be good for my soul." That was a soul-conscious choice of a stranger and alien who desired to make the name of Christ known where it was not-and in so doing, fed his own soul.

"Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it." (2 Corinthians 5:6-9)
 

Have you ever felt like you just didn't belong? That you were out of place and didn't fit? Regardless of your life stage, the reality is that all of us have been in a situation where we were the odd one out, the one that didn't belong. It could have been at a school function or a work benefit.

As followers of Christ we daily choose to live differently than the world around us. We choose to live with both our "minds and hearts set on things above" (Colossians 3:2-3). The "love of Christ compels us" (2 Corinthians 5:14) to act differently from those around us. We do this most visibly by not giving in to the desires of this world, by resisting the temptations of the flesh. An outcome of this choice is that often we don't "fit." In fact, we shouldn't fit. By choosing to live our lives how Christ commands we should, we will stand out-we will be different. We are supposed to be different!

As you have progressed through these devotionals you may have felt your heart moving toward what God is doing around the world. You may start to feel different from the prevailing culture. You may even find yourself not fitting in at church. Church may become less about maintaining a certain way of life and more about living out the radical call of God to take the Gospel to all peoples. This will not be easy; you will feel tension.

When we are crucified and raised with Christ, we experience the death of our flesh and enter into eternal life. We are no longer subject to the power of sin in our lives, yet, the fact remains that we live in a sinful world. Our heart yearns to be in our heavenly dwelling, but our flesh still lives on earth. Inevitably, our life is then characterized by tension.

This tension is not comfortable, it's not easy, and it's not fun. This tension is, however, part of being a Christ follower. If you claim to know Christ, and believe that you are walking by the Spirit, then you will experience this tension every day. Your soul will long to be in heaven, yet your flesh will actively seek out the pleasures of this world. Take heart, it's the task you were called to this side of heaven!

"We make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it."

I love to sing the praises of a great book, movie, or restaurant and let my friends in on something good. But, I've never considered anything so great that I would sing its praises among the nations. The Psalmist, however, was so overwhelmed by the Lord that he wanted everyone to know about Him. God is worthy of that kind of praise. Because of His great love, He has changed our permanent address from earth to heaven through faith in Jesus.

Have you ever noticed how people respond to reports of praise? If you extol a restaurant, they want to know more so they can visit and likewise experience the delicious tastes or inviting ambiance. So what happens when we praise God among the nations? People will want to know more and experience the goodness themselves. They'll ask questions and many will come to know Him, too. When we praise God, He is blessed and His name is glorified. But even beyond that, God somehow uses our praises to stir the hearts of men and women who hear and draw them to Himself!