In, but not really IN…Just passing thru!

Have you ever wondered how we are to be in the world, but not of the world?

Well, I just learned about this river in Zambia. It's called Luapula (or something like that, not sure on spelling as I heard this on a audio message). Anyway, there's something really special about this river…

The name Luapula means “Cutting through.” It cuts through three big lakes. One lake after another. It goes through one lake and then through mountains and valleys, and then across another lake. This river is something special. It’s dangerous actually, as many have drowned in the swift currents. So many people have died trying to cross this river. The interesting thing is that when the river cuts across the lakes, it does not change the speed. It is very powerful because it crosses the big lakes, but it keeps on going. It doesn’t change its identity. The fish from the lake and the fish from the river are different. (People that have fished there say that the fish caught in the river are different than those caught in the lake that the river is passing through.)You can also take water from the river and water from the lake and they taste different and have different ingredients.

I think this is a powerful illustration. We as people of God should be like this river. We are traveling on our way to heaven. On this journey, we travel through many mountains and many valleys. And we travel through the world (the big lakes), but we are not to become like the world. We are dead to the world. We are not to mix with the world…in other words, we don't become like the world. We are to be separate and set-apart. However, we should attract people to our current. And when they come, they should be swept into the current. They should die. What did I say? Yes, those in the big lake should die…die to their life in the world, die to their love of the world, die to everything else. And when they do, they will join the current of the river on the way towards Heaven. If we allow ourselves to be swallowed by the world, we not only loose our identity as believers, but we have no power to bring people with us to Heaven! But if we stay strong and undiluted and keep moving forward in Christ, the strength that we posses will pull others along into the current.

As I heard this story, it reminded me afresh of what it means to be a Christian on the journey. I want to be like the strong river. Yes, I live in the world. I live and breath, eat and sleep, pay bills to keep the lights on, and everything else like normal people. But my heart is not in this world. My heart and home is in heaven, therefore I keep my eyes single for that purpose and I keep moving forward. 

"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. 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." 1 John 2:16,17

Review:

• Bible Thought: In the world, but not of the world. We are just passing through, just like that river!
• Blessing: If we are abiding IN Christ, He gives us the strength to travel safely without getting sidetracked or mixed up. Let's keep abiding in Him!
• Battles: To keep my focus on Him!