DEAR CHILDREN OF GOD…WHY SHOULD WE NOT WALK IN THE WAYS OF THE WORLD?

As Christians, a very important question we should ask ourselves is, “WHY SHOULD WE NOT WALK IN THE WAYS OF THE WORLD?” The first place I look for an answer is, in the Bible, the written Word of God. The following words are a direct quote of the LORD Jesus, as recorded by the apostle John, in his gospel account.
– “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” – John 10:10a

Now, you may ask, what kind of an answer is this? Let us ponder upon the words of the LORD Jesus Christ, “THE THIEF COMETH NOT, BUT FOR TO STEAL, AND TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY” to see the answer.
When we choose to walk in the ways of the world, one would do so because, we are in agreement with them; we like them; we think it works. This is the logic or the reasoning behind anything anyone does. When we do so, unknown to us, we are actually writing our own death warrant. There are consequences for everything that we do. The world, and all that is in it, is ruled by the prince of this world. So any of us, who walks in its paths, is actually walking with the prince of this world…which is Satan himself.
– “31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” – John 12:31
– “30…for the prince of this world cometh…” – John 14:30b
– “11…the ruler of this world is judged.” – John 16:11b

– “3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded…” – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

The ways of the world, if we honestly evaluate, they are actually, diametrically opposite to the ways of the LORD. The world and its ways, will never ever meet with the ways of the LORD. The Bible makes it all too clear, and hope we have eyes, that can see, ears that can hear, a mind that can think clearly, and a heart that can take strong and firm decisions.
– “14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” – Proverbs 4:14-18

A few insightful words from Christians who dare to walk with LORD, and by effect, against the world.
– “The sin of worldliness is a preoccupation with the things of this temporal life. It is accepting and going along with the views and practices of society around us, without discerning if they are biblical. I believe that the key to our tendencies toward worldliness lies, primarily in the two words “going along”. We simply go along with the values and practices of society.” – Jerry Bridges 
– “We profess to be strangers and pilgrims, seeking after a country of our own, yet we settle down in the most un-stranger-like fashion, exactly as if we were quite at home, and meant to stay as long as we could. I don’t wonder apostolic miracles have died. Apostolic living certainly has.” – Amy Carmichael
– “The world says love yourself, grab all you can, follow your heart. Jesus says deny yourself, grab your cross and follow me.” – Francis Chan
– “The glory of the gospel is that when the church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones  

Here under are some scripture portions, to help us see the difference between the Word and the world. There is a world of difference between them.
1- FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD
– “4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” – James 4:4

2- FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH
– “6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” – Romans 8:6-8

3- IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM
– “15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:15

4- OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS, THAT HE MIGHT DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL AGE
– “3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” – Galatians 1:3

Many people think, it is being smart and worldly wise, to walk like a Roman in Rome. Sure it may be, but there is a price to be paid. Hope we don’t realise it too late, and end up in a place where we lose all what we have, and gain all what we don’t ever want. What a tragedy that would be, isn’t it? May the LORD to help us the reasons for, “WHY SHOULD WE NOT WALK IN THE WAYS OF THE WORLD?” Even so, the LORD help us.