If we still enjoy certain shows or entertainment that seem “normal,” we need to be alert — because the devil works very cleverly through any opening he can find. Many of the things the world offers are distractions that subtly yet consistently erode the purity of our faith without us realizing it. However, if we cultivate fellowship and encounters with God, over time, we will become more sensitive in discerning the movements and maneuvers of the powers of darkness.
We must dare to reflect: “If Jesus were living in this era, what would He do?” This is not a simple question — it opens the door to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Imagine if Jesus were living as we are — as a businessperson, a teacher, a homemaker, or a church servant — how would He act, speak, choose, and decide things? The devil is not threatened by Christians who live just “normally,” but Christians threaten him with a high level of militancy who reproduce “Christs” — that is, people who can say, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
For far too long, many Christians have lived in compromise. They lack a clear position according to the Kingdom of God Standard (KGS). We must understand what the KGS is, and that begins in our daily lives, moment by moment, by continually being willing to go up on the altar — to be sacrificed for God’s glory. Like a grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies so it can produce fruit, we must be willing always to change and be renewed.
Remember, the powers of darkness surround us. The devil is not a foolish being. He has thousands of years of experience tempting human beings. He knows our weaknesses and emotional wounds, and he recognizes our past and our vulnerable points. Without God’s help, we cannot endure.
That’s why we must envision ourselves as holy people. Just as an athlete imagines standing on the winner’s podium, or a musician imagines playing a beautiful melody, we should imagine living as God’s holy ones — whose fragrance of life is sensed by those around them. Picture a life that is Christlike — without blemish, full of love and truth — bringing joy to the Father’s heart and delight to heaven.
Amid the onslaught of a world that contaminates our thoughts, shapes bad habits, and builds value systems contrary to the Kingdom of God, we choose to set ourselves apart from the world. This separation is not literal isolation, but mental, emotional, and spiritual — by refusing to let the world shape our thinking and lifestyle.
The Holy Spirit will help us. He will enable us to escape situations that are dangerous, crisis-filled, or that threaten the purity of our faith. When we cry out, “Lord, I need You. I cannot live without You,” it is not just because we are being bullied, slandered, or facing significant problems. The world is constantly trying to colour us so that we become like it, not like Jesus. This influence can seep in through music, entertainment, social interactions, advertisements, and many seemingly trivial aspects of modern life that subtly plant worldly values in us.
Yet we choose to be holy people — a delight to God’s heart, a channel of blessing to others, and a cause for the Father to smile. We live moment by moment with awareness of His presence. And when the time comes for us to be called home, the angels will come to escort us to the Father’s House. So, let us begin now.