PROF.
BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons)
MA, PhD.
UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD AS A BELIEVER
Devotional Text: PSALM 24
Introduction:
The “world” is a common term basically used
in naming or expressing.
(i)
the planet that we live in,
(ii)
a segment of people that live in the planet,
(iii)
a living system in the planet.
Admittedly, the study of geography is of immense benefit in
understanding the size, shape and movement of the world and other heavenly
bodies, the land masses, climate, vegetation and events. However, the believer
who has a mere geographical understanding of the world is ill-equipped to take
full advantage of the special distribution of God’s blessing in it.
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1)
The world and its contents belongs to God, (Psalm 50:10-12)
(2)
The world is God’s gift to man, (Psalm 115:16)
(3)
The world is a point for boundless opportunities (Gen. 1:28)
(4)
The world and its valuables shall pass away, (1 John 2:17).
UNDERSTANDING
THE WORLD AS A DOMAIN, (GENESIS 1:26-28)
One’s
perception of the world contributes to how one reacts to situations and events
around one. One who understands the world as a domain settles down to do what
is required of a settler. By a way of a simple definition, someone’s domain in
the area (land, business, academics, economy, etc) where they have control or
influence. It is obvious that at creation God charge-mankind (including
believers) to:
(i)
be fruitful,
(ii)
multiply and
(iii)
subdue the world, (vs. 28).
It is also important to note that a domain
can also mean a particular area of activity or interest. The citation here
simply serves as the writer’s way of opposing all forms of indolence or
idleness. Without mincing words, the world is the centre of human activities
that result in establishing domains of interests, (See Ecc. 9:10).
UNDERSTANDING
THE WORLD AS A PEOPLE AND A LIVING SYSTEM, (Luke 16:86; 1 JOHN 2:15-17).
The world as
a planet habours two distinctive empires, the empire of the believers and that
of the unbelievers. Therefore, the designation, the world as a people refers
to:
(i)
those outside Christ
(ii)
the unjust and
(iii)
the unsaved, (Luke 16:8b)
On the other hand, the world as a living system stresses the
characteristics of the people of the world. Such people are noted for the:
(i)
lust of the flesh,
(ii)
lust of the eyes and
(iii)
pride of life, (I John 2:16).
Here marks
the contrasting point between the people of the world and those that are of
Christ, (See II Tim. 2:19).
UNDERSTANDING
THE WORLD AS A FORCE TO OVERCOME, (1 JOHN 5:4-5)
The
world as a system carries a compelling force with which constantly appeals or
compels the believer to relinquish or compromise his faith in Christ. this
compelling force demonstrates its strategies in form of:
(i)
pleasures of sin, (Heb. 11:24-25)
(ii)
cares of his life, (Luke
21:34)
(iii)
love of this world, (2 Tim. 4:10).
From time to time, the believer is
faced with the pressure which favours the world’s living pattern. However, by
the Word of God, it is obvious that one who is born of God overcomes the world,
(1 John 4:4)
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