In a generation fueled by strong feelings of sensitivity, true insecurity, and constant defensiveness, it can be very difficult to state your unpopular opinion on something without getting completely stomped into the ground. However, for Christians, this must be something we will have to overcome in this generation’s state of constantly getting offended by basically everything.
Christ-followers’ ultimate goals are to spread the Gospel and show others the path to eternal life, to live righteously, and overall treat people the way Jesus would treat them by loving them and being patient, kind, compassionate, pure, and wise. With that being said, Christians are supposed to do this all the time, no matter the place. This includes high school.
High school can be everything you want it to be or your worst nightmare. For me — it’s okay other than the fact that just about everything I’m surrounded by goes completely against my beliefs as a Christian. Whether it be walking in the hallway hearing terribly vulgar words, common gossiping, or young kids praising the loss of their virginity. You also have your popular “in” music that blatantly puts pre-marital sex, illegal drugs, and the love of money on a pedestal. These are just some of the worldly things we have to deal with on a daily basis that can oh-so easily sweep somebody in. At this point, the options must be weighed: choose God or choose the world?
As believers, there are things we shouldn’t participate in. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, the Word states, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” Whether this be Christian girls “dating” guys who claim to follow Christ and vice versa, or kids surrounding themselves with “friends” that continuously bring them down or turn them from God, it is all so hurtful to see.

In a devotional study book called “Devotions for a Revolutionary Year” by Lynn Cowell, she states, “If you have good friends who are Christians and friends who aren’t, you’ll see a problem eventually. No matter how good people are, if they don’t have Jesus as Lord of their lives, you won’t be able to get past a certain point in your relationship. There will be a spot where a wall comes up. Light is light, and dark is dark. When the two mix, all you get is gray.”
I’ve come to realize in my walk with Christ that the truth is, if I am pursuing a godly lifestyle, I will have to give up worldly things. To love God, I’ve got to give up loving the world. God’s Word warns about worldliness. James 4:4 states, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world, makes himself an enemy of God.” I don’t know about you, but that’s some serious stuff. It says it plain as day. An enemy of God? No, thanks! We either choose God and everlasting love, grace, mercy, joy, etc. or the world and it’s temporary pleasures that will eventually end in hurt.
Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” Any relationship without Christ will eventually fail. Any life without Christ will eventually end in hurt.

This is because, as humans, we have a void in our hearts that is meant to only be filled by our Holy Father, but since our society is so revolved around ourselves, people go searching to fill that void in things such as a significant other, money, sex, alcohol, drugs, material things, partying, friends, activities, and more. But guess what? Things are temporary and people will fail you. If you put all of that hope, trust, and love you have to offer into another person, you will end up disappointed, because we are imperfect. I know this because I’ve been there. I’ve put everything I have into things such as these and I kept on asking God why I was continuously hurting when He was trying to let me know all along.

All humans are imperfect, even your favorite celebrity that you wish you were, that person you’re crushing on, and even Beyoncé. Yes, I said it. We all fall back. This is why filling that void with anything but God is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s pain waiting to be discovered. However, our Creator is perfect and perfectly loves. Our Savior is steadfast in love, mercy, and grace. Filling our void with the love of Jesus is the only possible way we can be abound. Romans 8:37: “In all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” When I decided to follow Christ, my insecurities that I gained from the world left me. I inherited the spirit of Christ and was filled with peace. He helped me acknowledge my worth because of His grace.

All of us are children of God and we are all fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 clearly states, “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works, I know it very well.” We are all given the potential to be great through His mercy. We are so, so unworthy of His love, but He loves us regardless. I know that that is the kind of attention that I would want over being the most popular girl in school. The attention Jesus gives me is so much more worth it than something I could get from any guy or friend.
Not only that, but nothing can separate us from the love of our Lord. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38,39
Following God, choosing everlasting life, is open to anyone, at any time. He is always available to listen and always more than willing to completely transform your (and anyone’s) life if you let Him. He knows our hurt and our pain and is our comforter, counselor, and protector. He is fully capable of changing our life when we decide to take that step. When we start putting Him first, things start changing. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

The things that the world and its followers has to offer cannot be compared to the endless benefits that following God will reap. God vs. the World? Please…there’s just no competition.