If you pay close attention to the world we live in, you will find that there are very few people that you can really say are different. Especially when it comes to being different in a good way. Everybody wants to do what is “in” at the moment. If everyone around them is partying, then they want to party. If everyone is smoking, then they smoke. If everyone is using drugs, drinking, sleeping around, cheating on the spouse, lying and stealing, etc, etc, etc, then they do the same.

The worst part is that many of the ones that live this evil lifestyle call themselves Christians. They say that they love God, but that God understands them. The question is, if true Christians are called to be different, and your lifestyle is not different from the rest of the world, then how are you a servant of God?

Friends, don’t be deceived, to serve God you can not go with the flow of the world. These days everyone says, “I’m just going with the flow”, but where does that get them? Sad, empty, defeated, into trouble, not to mention far from God. The direction of this world is headed toward destruction and hell, but we were called to be different.

Remember what is written:

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. 1 John 3:7

Therefore, be separate from the world. The things that almost everyone else are doing are not good for those who want to please God. So don’t give into the ideas, behaviors, or traditions of this world.

Be a light in the midst of the darkness, be the “odd ball” if you have to, but make sure that when it comes to the world, you are different… be unique.

May the God of the Bible bless all of you!

Bishop Bira Fonseca