When Jesus was about to leave this world by His death on the cross, He prayed to the Father for His disciples, “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). Jesus’ death and resurrection would spell defeat for the prince of this world, as He said, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). Jesus has won the victory, but the devil can still lure disciples of the Lord into eternal ruin (1 Pet. 5:8). Christ’s victory (1 Cor. 15:57) will be consummated at the end when He delivers up the kingdom to the Father, and death, the last enemy, is destroyed: “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:24-26). In the meantime, children of God must still live in a world that lies in wickedness (1 John 5:19). Yet through faith in the Lord Jesus, we can overcome: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
While Christ’s followers are to be distinct from the world just as He was not of the world (John 17:16; cf. Rom. 12:2), He does not desire that they be removed from the world. Our task is to fight a cosmic conflict. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth, holding up the truth for the world, that men may be saved by coming to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4; 3:15). Our Lord has not commissioned us to be withdrawn from the world, but rather to go out and engage the world with the gospel (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47). We must confront the world without being confused with the world. The Pharisees so separated themselves that they despised Jesus for eating with publicans and sinners; however, Jesus did not participate in sin with them, but, as a physician heals the sick, He brought them to repentance (Matt. 9:9-13). Matthew himself was one of these publicans (Matt. 10:3).
Jesus identified His followers as salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt preserves and purifies. It was used in sacrifices and offerings (Lev. 2:13; Ezek. 43:24; Mark 9:49). Elisha used salt to purify poisoned waters of Jericho (2 Kgs 2:19-22). Christians are the chief preserving agents of righteousness in the world. Without them, the world would look like it did before the Flood when wickedness was so great it brought God’s universal punishment: “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them” (Gen. 6:5-7). The earth was filled with violence (Gen. 6:11). The only exception to this wickedness was Noah — the preacher of righteousness — and his family, the eight souls who were saved by water while the ungodly were drowned (Gen. 6:8; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5). Light shines in the darkness and stands out. Paul’s desire for Christians at Philippi was not that they would be identified with the world, nor be removed from the world, but, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Phil. 2:15, 16).
Salt can lose its savor, and light can grow dim (Matt. 5:13; Luke 14:34). Beware! This world can contaminate the Christian. Shun evil companionships (1 Cor. 15:33). Come out from the world and be separate (2 Cor. 6:17). But don’t live a secluded life. Let us also remember that the devil came to our Lord while He was alone in the wilderness (Mark 1:13). We must follow both commands in Eph. 5:11: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Conflict with the spiritual powers of darkness is part of the Christian life. Remember the charge of the inspired apostle Paul:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Eph. 6:10-18.)
We must stand wearing the armor of God instead of turning our backs and retreating. Soldiers in the first century had protection on their front for advancing against the enemy; however, if they retreated their backside was vulnerable. We cannot retreat from the world. Each part of the armor of God has a connection to the word of God. Let us take the word of God to the world and fight the good fight (1 Tim. 6:12).
–Mark Day