The Time is Past

      I don’t know about you, but I have always had a fear about what others think of me. I don’t know if it is nature or nurture, but I have the sanguine personality that wants everyone to love me and speak well of me. I want them to say they like me and that I’m cool. I love it when people compliment or encourage me.

      There is not anything wrong with this personality. It simply is what it is. But, like all personalities, it has its dangers. When I am not careful, I might compromise the truth in which I believe to simply be accepted and praised by others.

      I even remember falling prey to this temptation as far back as high school. I was waiting for my ride after school. It was late. Two of my classmates were waiting for their rides along with me. One was a bit foul-mouthed. I jumped right in their with him. I wanted him to like me. The next day, the young lady who had also been there said, “Wow, Edwin, I never knew you talked like that.” I was utterly ashamed.

      I Peter 4:3-4 says:

For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.

      The world doesn’t like it when we don’t behave like they do. They will malign us. However, the time to behave like them is past. It is time for us to step up to the plate and pursue righteousness.

      Of course, sometimes the peer pressure isn’t about something quite so drastic as drunkenness and orgies. Sometimes it is the little things. I can’t help at this time of year to think about the little ways in which we may be tempted to just go along with the “Jesus is the reason for the season” sentiment during this holiday season.

      We can be afraid people will think we are odd. They might even think we are not Christian. Most of our religious friends will probably not be able to understand. Your friends may react the way some of Tessa’s friends did when the conversation came up. They treated her like she was crazy.

      However, whether the issue is big or small we must not allow the peer pressure to rock us off our faith. Romans 12:2 says we are not to be conformed to the world. Our goal in life is not to be different from everyone, but when we simply follow the will of God, we will be different from others who do not.     

      The time is past for us to do what others do in order to impress them. Let’s just obey God.

Edwin L. Crozier