Integrity- People of God

Christ followers, who are truly born again, should understand that they have died to their old life and all that they were in this fallen world system, whether it be culture or ethnicity. Jesus is now our King and we are part of the family of God. Our allegiance is no longer to this world but to God’s kingdom, His society and His culture. We are to represent Jesus our King and His kingdom on earth. Our citizenship along with our true allegiance must be transferred from this world to the Kingdom of God or our allegiance will be divided between doing the will of God or the will of our natural but fallen culture. 

Joshua 24: 14-15   “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” NKJV

This fallen world has tried to cultivate a lifestyle that leads people to live in an irreligious context, where they speak with a since of spirituality, but live a life far from God.  The world will say, everyone is doing it or no one can live a righteous life, and they will try and simulate true believers of Christ into their way of living. Followers of Christ are called to live as pilgrims and strangers in a foreign land. We are told tobe ambassadors for Christ and His Kingdom, to show this lost world the truth of God’s love and His kingdom on earth. The world wants Christians to be uncommitted, to be neither hot nor cold, but this will not only lead to failure but also destruction.

Revelation 3:15-17  “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. NKJV

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul  

The world system wants Christ followers to seek after the things of the world, to be prideful and selfish concerns and to keep their roots, their allegiance to their natural pride and their socioeconomic status. The enemy of God does not want God’s people to fully commit to Christ, so when difficult decisions come their allegiance will sway between theworld’s way and the word of God.  True followers of Christ must be fully committed to their God and King, if not their loyalty will be pulled into two different directions, between the social and financial pressures of the world and the word of God. 

Our hearts will develop idols that will compete with our allegiance and commitment to the love of God.  When we allow ourselves to be distracted and continuously gaze at the things of this world, these thingswill become our priority, our heart idols and the center of our affection.The world has so many attractions that will try to lure the eyes of Christians from word of Christ. We are told to let our eyes be focusedon what is good and that is the light of Christ. If people allow this world to become their main focus they will eventually find themselves living in darkness. 

Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

The life of a Christ follower is simple, our allegiance is to God our King and His Kingdom and we are to show the love of God to this fallen world as representatives of His kingdom on earth. It is simple but not necessarily easy. We are called to love God above all else even self. These are some hard lines drawn for true followers of Christ to live by,but it is a choice, we are not forced to come. Everyone is allowed to choose their destiny as an act of their own will and as a result of their own actions and decisions. 

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.NKJV

The Bible says many people are deceived by the prince of darkness and he has blinded them to the truth of God’s word. Many believe they can live life the same as the world and still call themselves Christian but the word of God tells us we cannot be a true follower of Christ and live as the world.  We can test the authenticity of a true believer in Christ, because true believers choose the love of God above all else. They also,choose to show the love of God and the light of God even in a hostile and dark place. We display our allegiance to King Jesus by the love we show to God’s creation, His image bearers and his kingdom. Our desireis to show God’s love to those who may not be lovely. 

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The world will know our allegiance is to Christ and His Kingdom by the love we have for one another and by obeying His commandment, to love others as He has loved us. Christ loved us while we were at enmity with God in our minds and our actions. Christ loved us unconditionally; we did not, and could not earn His love. Christ’s love was sacrificial. Jesus gave His life and He died so that we could have eternal life be with God. We are called to die to self-pride and who we were in this fallen state so that we may live a life that will give love to others unconditionally and to show the love of God to those who are lost. This is how we display our allegiance to Christ our King.