Biblical Warnings against Worldliness

An Example of the Life of One Rich Man

Howard Hughes was at one time the richest man in the world. When his time in this world was near it's end, Mr. Hughes went into a state of paranoia and began to keep himself locked up in a medical facility that he built for himself. In this building he went to the extent of trying to keep everything that came into contact with his personage sanitized and clean of the infectious germs which (in his mind) would surely end his life sooner than he wanted it to. All of his food, clothes, toiletries, were all of a sanitized state and those that brought him these things had to be sanitized also. Mr. Hughes went as far as having a special sanitation system equipped for the very air he breathed in and effort to keep germs from entering his body through the air he breathed. But, in all his effort to extend his life, he still lived no longer than the average human.

Trying to escape death. This is something all minds have contemplated at one time or another. But the word of God says:

Heb:9:27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Mr. Hughes has faced that judgment, rich as he was. He came into this world naked and he left this world naked of his treasures, his family, his hopes, his dreams his possessions, his worldly treasures and finally his life. Every man, woman, and child shall stand before their creator one day. Was Mr. Hughes prepared to face his creator? Well, historical record shows no indication that Mr. Hughes was a born again Christian. No records show Mr. Hughes as receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, or being baptized into Jesus name which God commanded in his New Testament in order to be saved.

Acts:2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Jn:3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jn:3:7-8: Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

1Pt:1:23: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Mr. Hughes left this world unprepared for eternity. He had everything he could ever want in this world, all the comforts of the greatest of kings. But all his gain amounted to nothing in the end because in all his worldly ventures to attain wealth and power, he left by the wayside the greatest eternal value of all: "The Mercy and Atoning Blood of JESUS CHRIST".

Mt:16:26: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mr. Hughes did allot of good for the world, but all his works were worldly deeds and none of them were eternal deeds. He left by the wayside the most important issue of eternal value (THE SOUL OF MAN). He catered to the things of the flesh and not the things of the Spirit. His mindset was on the here and now and not a hundred, a thousand or even millions of years from now. This is the mind of the world friends. And many great men and women have crossed the river of death and gone into eternity as helpless as the day they were born.

How many men and women do the same as Mr. Hughes? How many attend one hundred percent of their time to gain of the world and not eternal gain? How many concern themselves with pleasures of the world and not eternal joy with the Lord? How many give mind to tomorrow when they do not know if tomorrow holds a place in time for them? Pleasure, lust, the worldly eye, the worldly ear, the heart of sinful man, these are things set aside for judgment day. Yet, the mind of the world does not contemplate these things. The mind of the world thinks only of now, the pleasures of now, the gain of now, the commitment to today, and tomorrow, in this world, for this world. They do not heed to the will of God, they heed unto their own fleshly wantonness.

Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Titus 2:12: Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

Then their last day suddenly comes upon them and it too late. They have been called before their creator:

Lk:21:34-35: And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

How many souls are living and working for the weekend with the lust, reveling, and party of the weekend? How many folk say, "I'm not doing anything bad, I'm not hurting anyone, I'm just having a good time"? What does the word of God say about this?

Jms:4:4: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

The word of God clearly defines Gods friendship with the world and his position with the deeds of the world. It is our own free choice to choose the Highway of this world for the here and now, or the narrow pathway which leads to (eternal life).

The evil influences of the World

Deception is the most powerful weapon Satan possesses against the Soul of man. The devil likes to make sin look pretty. He likes to wrap it up with pretty paper an tie a pretty bow (which is really a Spiritual bond) around it. Lets take a look at some of the warnings the word of God gives about worldly securities and influences and the deception behind it.

Destroys the influence of Truth

Mt:13:22: He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Every man and woman has or will be at one time approached with the word of God by his messengers in one form or another. How we react to this approach is where the rubber meets the road. Choked out by the pleasures, lust, pride, and treasures of this world, too often many ears take no thought of the spiritual warning that has been given them. They do not see it, they do not understand it, because "They are Spiritually Lost and bound to the things and the Prince of this world". Who is that prince? He is the father of all lies, the deceivers, the master of evil, Lucifer. And his destiny is the Lake of Fire and he knows it. So he wants to take as many of us with him in rebellion to Gods righteous judgment against him. He knows that man is the most cherished creation in the heart of God, for it is the only creation of Gods, "Which has an eternal Soul".

Gen:2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living SOUL.

Deludes Man into a State of False Security

Matthew 24:38-39: For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that none entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The parties, the outings, the lust, the men and women down at the club or at the bar, the weekend of adulterous lust, the fun of the world. It looks so good on the outside and to the carnal mind. It's so pretty, so fun, so inviting, so carnally pleasure. Then the Flood comes. Destruction of life, the ending of the here and now, crossing the gates into the world of eternity. What is the gain of this worldly promiscuity? What is it's end? "Its end is the righteous judgment of God".

1 Cor. 6:9-10: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators (unmarried sexual promiscuity), nor idolaters (worshipers of worldly God's or Gods other than Jesus Christ), nor adulterers (cheating on spouse), nor effeminate (homosexuals, bisexuals, transsexuals lesbians, etc.), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (prostitution), Nor thieves, nor covetous (desiring worldly riches or pleasures more than God), nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Any question you have about anything in this world can be answered in the word of God. God has left nothing to be guessed. He wants to save your soul. It is up to you to answer his word with a humble heart, a contrite sprit and a commitment to the need of Jesus Christ in your life. Obey Acts 2:38 and live.

Makes Earthly Affections Supreme

1Cor:7:32: But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

God has called us all to love him more than our spouses. That's right folks! And who are we to say this is fair or unfair. Did he not form you of the dust? Did he not give you life? Did he not breath into you an eternal soul? Did he not give his life on Calvary to save your eternal SOUL? Does he merit your total love? He does. There will be no giving of marriage of in the Kingdom of heaven. There will be no wives, no husbands. There will be one Bride, one Groom. The church is the eternal bride of Christ.

Matthew 22:30: For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

John 1:36: And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Revelation 21:9: And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

It is therefore important that we tend our highest affection towards God. Love your spouse, yes, but not more than God. If you really love your spouse, love them eternally by taking them to the church and the alter of God and both of you committing your lives to Christ. This is true love, this is eternal love. This is a love that cannot be broken by Satan. This love shall live forever, for it is the heart and will of God.

Moulds the Activities and Plans of Life

Eph:2:2: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

This passage was directed to the church about the past lives they had once lived. But it is also directed to the world as a message of just who is the prince of this world and that those who follow this prince are to be considered the children of disobedience. Disobedience is manifest by virtue of the spirit of Satan working in the hearts of mankind. It is a spiritual bond, a shackle, a cuffing, a chain of evil supported to the spirit of the individual who is not born again and has not received the power to overcome this prince by means of the only power that can overcome him "The Holy Ghost". Once a man has received the Holy Spirit of God, he becomes a new creature in Christ, he takes on a new spirit. He wears the armor of righteousness and has the power (if used with faith) to overcome all obstacles the devil throws in his or her path. Satan has no power against the church. He has no power against the spirit of the Church. He is a deceiver and will whisper his lies into your ears, but the mind of Christ will not hear these lies, rather the studied man or woman of God will effectually rebuke him by God's Word EVERY TIME. Without this power our journey in this world is motivated or Molded by the Spirit of Satan. Worldly pleasure, lust, riches of the world, these are but a few of many deceptions Satan throws into our paths to take our mind off of God and on the world, where he has power and influence.

There have been men of God blessed with great possessions, but lets look at the story of Job. He had it all. He was the richest man in the Land of Ur and God ALLOWED Satan to take these things from Job in an effort to prove Job's heart for God. Satan was allowed to do anything he wanted except take the Job's life. And he took everything except his wife. His possessions, his money, his children, all were taken from Job. But Job answered the challenge and never cursed God with his lips. When it was all said and done, God blessed Job with more than twice of what he had before the challenge. The blessing after the storm was greater than before. Once again Satan was defeated and the name of God magnified. Did the Devil give up after this defeat? Never, he is still at it today, working paths of unrighteousness in the hearts of men and women. Leading people to attend their time to the things of the world and away from the direction of God. From the time God cast him out of Heaven, Lucifer has sought to be worshiped like God. He has sought to make his name magnified as God. He challenged God in Heaven and lost. And his reign on this earth is shortcoming. Until that time, he will continue to try and lead your path. He is described as a roaring lion going about the earth to and fro, seeking whom he may devour. And he accomplishes this with his greatest weapon of all, deception.

1Pt:5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Job:2:2: And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

We must understand that the prince of this world will continue to try and lead our paths, mould our futures and deceitfully lead us into perdition and judgment along with himself. This is the will of the Beast, the Enemy, the Antichrist, the deceiver, the Dragon, the Serpent, Lucifer, Satan. Be not deceived, he is after your soul, and will give you, promise you, and lead you into anything to get it. If we could only see the spirit world with our eyes, we would assuredly run to an alter of God and give our lives whole heartedly to God without question. Even with the Holy Spirit we are limited as to what we can see of the Spirit world:

1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Instead of spiritual eyes, we have been given Gods word, his Spirit, and freedom of choice. What will your choice be?

Leads to Religious Apostasy

Sinful Imitations and Worldly Customs Condemned

Traditions of men, imitations of things brought on of pagan tradition, idolatry, the customs of men. All these are condemned in the word of God. In this section we will observe what the word of God has to say about the customs of the world being mixed with the truth of the Word of God. Gods word is only effectual as a whole. Nothing added, nothing taken away. A complete unit of truth and path to the way of Salvation. Anything added or removed will lead the souls of men onto a false path of spiritual travel. Let's observe the different avenues the devil uses to choke the truth of God's written word by planting seeds of deception using the world's traditions, idolatries, and the doctrines of men.

In Committing Popular Sins

Ex:23:2: Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.

Following the crowd. Crowd mentality. We have heard it on the news, read it in the newspapers. Someone starts something evil and the crowd follows in suit. Rioting, reveling and of the same sort. This is defined as Sin according to the word of God. The word of God tells us instead to come out among the crowd. To be separate from the world and the mentality of the spirit of this world.

2 Corinthians 6:17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Luke 6:22: Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

1997, A woman on a bridge in Detroit, Michigan accidentally crashes into a car on a Detroit Bridge during commute hours. The man who's vehicle she crashed into gets out of the car pulls the woman from her car, then beats her on the spot. Many of the commuters stop, and root this man into beating her more. Not one individual offers the woman assistance. The woman runs to the rail of the bridge, the man pursues and the woman jumps from the bridge into the freezing water and is killed. The crowd mentality. Do it, go for it. This is the world and the evil spirit behind this world. Football games, and other contact sport games are full of crowd mentality. We have often seen or heard of people beaten at games over words about this team or that team, this player vs. that player, all in the spirit of competition. Competition is a spirit of Satan Friends. He developed this spirit from the beginning when he led one third of the angels in heaven against God, AND LOST. He and his followers were cast down from heaven and are now the spirits of the air in this world. Who do you think is behind the rage at the game? Who do you think developed this false sense of "The Winning Edge" or "The Sporting Thrill of Victory"? These are spiritual devices of Satan himself. Without the Spirit of the Lord (Holy Ghost) leading your life through the written word of God, you will also someday , sometime, follow a crowd mentality of some sort. Be ye Separate and be received of God.

In False Worship

Deut: 12:30: Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

Idolatry, false Gods, spirits of the land, animal, or human nature. The Lord shall destroy the people of these Pagan traditions. He has destroyed many in the past. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroy by God and recorded in his word as a picture of what he can and will do to those who follow these false Gods.

Romans 1:25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

The word of God tells us not to follow after these things. He has given us a record of what he has done in the past to these followers and warns us not to follow again. As we can see by viewing the daily headlines, very few have heeded to his will. We find more idolatry in the current day than has ever been recorded. The Generation of today shall be more evil than in the past. Mounting evil is present all over the streets of the world. Human Cleansing in Bosnia, Gang related murders on the streets of America, Slavery in the coca fields of Columbia, hatred in the land of Africa, suicide bombings, car bombings and structural bombings from Muslim activists in the middle east, false Gods and Christian martyrdom in the land of China. All of these sort shall be destroyed by the Lord. They shall not escape judgment. God has been merciful unto mankind in an effort to promote his Grace and love for mankind unto all of the world by the message of his written word. But, there is going to soon come the day when he pulls up on the reigns of Mercy and sends forth judgment on the world. He will utterly destroy this world. It is written:

Matthew 13:40: As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

John 15:6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

2 Peter 3:10: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Revelation 18:8: Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Friends, please take heed to the warnings of God, do not follow the activities of these sort. You would be better to stand for Christ alone and die in this world as a martyr (unto eternal life), than turn against him with the Crowd and face him in Judgment. The rebels of today shall be the fuel of eternal fire tomorrow. So it is written, so it shall be done.

In Bad Governmental Policies

1 Samuel 8:19-20: Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

The middle east is a daily picture of Political upheaval. Unrest lies on every street corner. People look under their vehicles for attached bombs. People live in fear. Government rule has no rule and is a joke in the middle east. If some group does not like what the Government puts into law, they either kill the leaders by bombing them, threatening their families, or threaten public safety. And they make good on their threats. Evil does not wait on the sun to rise. It works all hours of the day. Militant groups all over the world are taking government rule into their own hands for their own causes (some in the name of their Pagan Gods). Is this the way the Lord explained his will for promoting his word or magnifying his name? Did he say to slaughter nations that would not accept him as God. No, he said let the tares grow among the wheat and on the day of Harvest, the tares and the wheat shall be separated, the sheep shall be separated from the goats.

Matthew 25:32: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats.

Matthew 13:30: Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Matthew 13:40: As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

God does not promote the spilling of blood in the name of religious cleansing or unto the magnification of his name. He does not promote riotous behavior as a means of outreach by his disciples. In God's New Testament grace, mercy, and love of one's neighbor are to be promoted. The Kingdom of Heaven will not be gained by the blood of man, by the Blood, Spirit, and Words of Jesus Christ. Those who promote religious cleansing and wars shall be as the tares. They shall be gathered and burned. Government rule is to be obeyed in the context of the written word of God. If the land you dwell in does not allow the words of Jesus Christ to be the cornerstone of its rule, it shall (as Rome) fall heavily. It would be better for you to dwell in your land as a pilgrim, a stranger to the government religious rule, than to be crushed when its walls come down. Poor Government policies are written in rebellion to the word of God. If it were not so, evil would not be permitted to form its own rule on the streets of these lands. And the signs of spiritual decay in government rule are present in every land of the world.

In Heathenish Practices

In Following a Bad Example

Matthew 23:2-3: Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Words without action. This is what the Pharisees performed. In the above passage Jesus is telling the disciples to obey the oracles of God which were given unto Israel, but DO NOT follow the outward examples of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were likened unto a shining cup by Jesus. Jesus said of the Pharisees:

Matthew 23:25-26: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Jesus was telling his disciples, let your light shine from within from the beginning. The outward will follow in suit. Do not walk with you head high as a prideful person. Do not do as they do.

We have all followed a bad example at one time or another. Jesus warns of how bad examples can lead ones spirit astray by actions such as those of the Pharisees. Keep your heart true from the inward that the outward might rightly shine before all to see the spirit within you. In a world filled with mounting evil, it today the most difficult and necessary time of all to shine the Light of Christ from the inward (heart, actions, words, thoughts) so that the outward might be seen in the world as a reflection of Christ. This is the beginning of the pricking of the heart to those who are in the world and not of Christ or his church. This is an example to be followed and not that of the Pharisees or the heart of a Pharisee as it is written. The Book of Proverbs is a Book of Wisdom. Within the book of proverbs we read:

Proverbs 4:23: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Keeping your heart true to God first and the issues of the world, last. Solomon was a judge and King in Israel. He was also the Son of King David. Did he follow in suit of his fathers convictions? He did in that he (through the medium of the Holy Spirit of God) scribed the Book of Proverbs. He did not in that he had more concubines or (wives) than any man in history, and followed the suit of his father David in the lust of the flesh, which David repented of and Solomon did not. He had hundreds of wives. He was a man who had the form of God, yet he also lusted after the flesh and the pagan Gods of his wives infiltrated his mind, his heart and he then lost the (Gift of Wisdom) given unto him by God. God told him not to marry the women outside of Israel. But Solomon did not listen. He allowed his flesh to rule his judgment for a season and the spirits of the women he married choked the truth he had once observed as a youth.

This is and example of those who allow the world and its examples to lead our judgment. If for only a moment the enemy or prince of this world can work his way into any crack you allow in your spiritual wall. He has been at it much longer than ourselves and he is a master at his evil work. If we all could only understand and see the power and the battle in the spirit world, we would surely turn our hearts completely to the Lord and seek the power to overcome the enemy of our souls who walks about this earth "Seeking whom he may devour".

Worldly Builders

The following are biblical references concerning those who allow their foundations of faith to be mixed with the world and the issues of worldliness.

Job 27:18: He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.

Jeremiah 22:14: That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

Daniel 4:30: The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

Luke 6:49: But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Luke 12:18: And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

What we see in these passages is a message of how not to build your spiritual foundation. The Holy Trinity, Pagan idolatry, The New Age Movement, these doctrines and Traditions of men are rooted in the idolatrous actions of the pagan worshipers in the times of Babylon and the Days of Noah. Evil rooted and passed down the lineage through the seed of Cain. Doctrines of men, brought on by spirits, not of the Lord, but of Satanic influence into the hearts of men. And over the years Satan has managed to make these practices look as though they were good for the soul of man. Another lie from the deceiver. If corrupt seed develops a corrupt tree which produces spiritually bitter fruit and the tree is hewn down at one time without burning the roots under the foundation or ground, these same roots will sprout new growth when it finds season to grow. Sprouting new branches with the same evil, and may even grow larger, stronger, and produce a more bitter spiritual fruit than before. We should all be aware of this spiritual infiltration into the church houses and remove and burn these roots of deception. Like the adage of the bad apple spoiling the bunch, if idolatry and pagan tradition is allowed to progress in the church house, it will eventually form into corruption and decay the complete truth and Holiness of God's written instruction for his people. Build your house on the solid foundation of the complete truth in God's Word. Plant your tree into Holy Ground that you may produce spiritual fruit acceptable unto the Lord. A tree that produces no spiritual fruit unto God is to be hewn down.

Matthew 12:33: Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Matthew 7:16-20: 16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 13:24-30: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Luke 13:6-9: He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Luke 6:47-49: Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Building our foundations upon the words of Christ. This is the will of God. Not allowing the world to sprout roots of deception into his words, but effectually walking in every idol written word of HIS Doctrine and not the pagan Doctrines, Traditions, or Idolatries, of men. May God help us all to build our foundations upon his truth and denounce that which is contrary to his will and his written word.

Un-worldliness (walking in the way of truth)

In Closing I am not going to make any further comment or study of this final section. We have seen in the above headings what Gods word teaches us not to do concerning mixing the world, it's traditions, idols, and pleasures with the written word of God. We have seen how it can choke the truth and we have seen who is the father of tradition itself. Now we will look at passages that tell us what to do concerning our Christian walk and faith in this world. I will make no comment in this area. I will let the written word of God say it all here. It is my hope that these passages will help guide you into a walk of faith in Gods word and denounce tradition, false doctrines, and the idols of MEN. God bless you all and may the truth of God's written word effectually place and keep your journey upon the narrow path his word says IS TO BE FOUND:

Matthew 7:13-14: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Walking in this World

Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Corinthians 7:31: And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

Galatians 6:14: But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

2 Timothy 2:4: No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Hebrews 11:24-26: By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

1 John 2:15-17: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.