Table of Contents
Romans 12:2, “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of mind.” Then you will be able to know the will of God;-what is good, what is pleasing to him and what is perfect.”
Introduction.
If Jesus were to visit you at your home and if there were some things, would you tell him to wait at the door so that you could fix them first, hide them, or at worst, throw them away? Were there some of your friends who had visited you before he came that you chased and told to pass through the back door, or if there was no time you told them to hide in the closet or attic?
What if Jesus found you talking? Would you change the tone, or language at all, or even keep quiet? Are there places where you go to hang out that if you hear that Jesus is coming there, you will fall sick as an excuse not to go there?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, yes, then it means that you have confirmed. Ask yourself this question: What does it mean to conform? How do we conform? When do we start to conform?
What Does It Mean To ‘Conform’ in Romans 12:2?
The word “conform” comes from the Greek suschématizó, which means to fashion, pattern, or style after or mimic it, agree with it, or walk in its ways. We should go and preach to the sinners, yes, but we shouldn’t be like them. That is what the bible teaches us in: 1 Corinthians 9:20-21, “When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ.
When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ.
But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.”
Remember, becoming a Christian doesn’t mean that you leave this world, it means that you have to leave the devil’s kingdom and join God’s kingdom, according to 1 Corinthians 5:10. Be careful of the “world.”
Why is this so?
It’s tempting to get sucked into all the good things this world seems to offer, ranging from the people we love to the splendor before our eyes, and we begin to think the world itself is good.
The Bible reminds us to seek God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), and according to 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” “If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” In effect, we put the world above God. What are some of the things you are struggling with? Is it idols, fear, pride, materialism, or doubt that you have put before God?
Look at what happened to King David when he loved the world and its things. According to 2 Samuel 11:1-2 Remember King David tried to do what other kings used to do and that was staying on the balcony. Never forget what Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Matthew 6:24 reminds us that “No one can serve two masters.” Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. “You cannot serve both God and money”. Remember also that Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:21, that “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of the demons.” What we mean is that you cannot put the world’s morals, people, or desires above or on the same level as God.
Some of us believe so much in horoscopes, the moon alignment, and psychics…but we do not believe what God has to say? So do not conform to this world. Either you follow the world or you follow God. You cannot follow both.
Never forget that God tells us He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). So, loving the world, and conforming to the world, is idolatry and will incite His wrath. So, never ever conform.
Is it Important to Be Transformed in Jesus?
We are to renew our minds, pattern ourselves after Christ, and avoid conforming to the world so that we might spend eternity with God, our Father, in heaven. We read that in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Never forget that in John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” So, the world will never love you. Whether you dress, talk, or even act like them. Unless you join them they will still hate you.
How do you create new patterns?
When you choose not to be conformed to this world it means that we are all called to be in the world but not of the world. There are a lot of things in this world that have become acceptable, and many people are so blinded by what is called right in the world when really it is wrong (2 Corinthians 4:4).
In the world. We want to accept everything, everyone, and everybody’s behavior and we have become afraid to call evil evil, And for anyone who dares call a wrong person out for being wrong, then all of a sudden they are deemed intolerant.
We want to support such evil deeds or acts done by our friends just because we want to understand everyone’s perspective, no matter how wrong it is. But the sad thing is that many people do not even know what is right in the eyes of God. The reason for that is because:
- They don’t know God.
- They listen too much to other people on, who to date or marry , what to believe
- They cannot think for themselves and therefore believe what the world tells them.
Not only are you being conformed by the world, but you are not even living your own life at this point. You are just doing what other people want you to do. As a Christian, I learned to just listen to God and trust God. I know, it’s very hard because it means that you have to trust someone that you do not see called the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Nathaniel.
