We should not have to become people who fail in life, suffer, or experience disappointment first before leaving the world. It should not be that way—indeed, it must not. Why wait for suffering before earnestly seeking God? That is dangerous, for the cost may be too great.
It is far better to remain healthy and sufficiently provided for, yet truly leave the world and serve others so that they, too, may be led to the new heaven and earth. Jesus said, “It is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Hard does not mean impossible. But those who still place much hope and attachment in the world will indeed struggle to enter heaven. Do not misunderstand: this does not mean that the poor automatically have an easier way into heaven. Not at all. For the poor who are greedy and long to be rich will also not enter heaven.
In truth, there is a void in the human soul that only the Creator can fill. Therefore, do not let wealth and worldly pleasures occupy that emptiness. If our hearts are filled with the world, we will feel sufficient without God. Our souls will grow dull, our appetites directed toward the world, until they can no longer be restored.
Ironically, many Christians—including pastors, activists, and ministers—do not honestly care about spiritual matters, even though they are diligent in attending church. They are more preoccupied with worldly concerns. Outwardly, they may appear spiritual, but their hearts are already gripped by love for the world. Even the ministry itself can become a kind of “worldly pleasure”: a means of gaining self-worth, keeping oneself busy, or merely seeking God’s help.
Yet in reality, they have not left the world. Such people are unworthy to serve God, for they still dishonor Him. What they truly honor is not the Lord, but worldly wealth. As a result, their lives do not transform anyone. How can they call others to leave the world when they themselves are still bound by it?
Owning a house is not wrong. But if we believe that the house makes life more complete, then we have not yet honored God, and this is a clear sign of someone who has not left the world. It is pointless to praise and worship God while our hearts remain attached to the world. Such a life is nothing more than ordinary existence, just like the children of the world. They are unwilling to leave the world because they are already comfortable in making the world their “kingdom.”
This is why a true church teaches us to give our entire lives, for indeed, our whole lives belong to God. We ought to be grateful that God has opened our minds to this truth. Now we must set our hearts firmly to leave the world truly. If we find ourselves not longing to meet the Lord, we must rebuke ourselves. That is a signal that our hearts are beginning to be drawn toward the world. If we do not yearn for the encounter with Jesus, something is certainly wrong in our lives. Give thanks if, through bitter experiences, the Lord teaches us to have a beautiful life—a life that leaves the world.
Let us not die in this world without ever leaving the world. God will call into account the spirit or passion that ruled our lives. In the end, every person faces only two possibilities: either their life’s passion becomes increasingly directed toward God, or increasingly bound to the world. The spirit of the world leads to destruction. A person’s spirit is not formed in a day, but through a long journey from childhood. If, from an early age, one is fed primarily with worldly things, one’s soul will be shaped by the world. Many people, especially women, have become bound to worldly inputs that reinforce worldly passions.
Therefore, now we must learn the truth of God’s Word, so that the direction of our lives is set toward the Kingdom of God. For those who live only to satisfy their desires and bind themselves to the world, in the end, they destroy themselves.