Breaking old habits can be hard. Secularism and all its attendant maladies is a hard habit to break. It takes Kingdom power to shake it off and gain a new perspective and power for life. Today’s excerpt from our book, The Kingdom Turn, is from pages 15 and 16:
“The Kingdom turn brings a new perspective on life, so that those who come to faith in Jesus Christ view their lives, and live them, from the vantage point of eternity. The more we realize the abundant blessings that are ours in Jesus Christ, the greater our passion for Him becomes, as love for Him re-organizes all the other loves of our life.
“The Kingdom turn establishes a new priority and a new prospect in our lives – the joyous, burning desire to glorify God in all we do. And this translates into concrete pursuits that bring the reality of the Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy into all the relationships, roles, and responsibilities of our everyday lives.
“So when we’re swimming with the current of the Kingdom of God, we know peace and joy greater than anything else in life can bring.
“But we need always to be mindful of the rip current of this secular and materialistic age. Wave after wave of the Kingdom of God is washing up on the shores of time through the lives of those who have made the Kingdom turn. But our secular age flows earnestly in exactly the other direction, and it can carry the unwary far from the shores of righteousness to a dangerous floundering amid the flotsam and jetsam of materialism.”
For reflection or discussion
1. Do you see any lingering influences of materialism or secularism in your life? Explain.
2. Where in your life are you seeing progress against these influences?
Secular materialism is the world perspective of our day. It drives the economy of the nation and the aspirations of most of our fellow citizens. We who have made the Kingdom turn can show the world a whole new way of living, one that will attract many of our neighbors to want to know more. But we’ll have to work hard at it every day, because the rip current of secularism is a constant danger. Share today’s podcast with a friend. Then get together to encourage one another as you discuss it. You can order your free copy of The Kingdom Turn by going to The Ailbe Bookstore.
