Hearing of someone who had taken their life or had attempted to do so because of rejection or who had been made to feel they don’t measure-up to the standards of society is alarming and on the increase. 
 
Up to the age of twenty-six I conscientiously positioned myself in society as a ‘people pleaser’… at times, doing criminal and stupid things I knew were not right in order to gain acceptance from the wrong crowd! Friends, the world in which we live exerts a powerful negative pull, influencing people to conform to the pattern of popular human thinking and behaviour. I was one of those people until the Lord came to my rescue.

Jesus plays a different tune than the world. He did not come into the world to fit-in but came instead to invite mankind to fit-into His family… as subjects of His Kingdom! While the world as we know it is unholy, corrupt and perishing, the Kingdom of God is holy, expanding, and everlasting. Qualification for entry into the Kingdom of God is repentance of all rebelliousness to God and total surrender to His kingly rule. God extends this gracious offer to every living person regardless of their sin-condition at the time of their encounter with Him. 
 
In this everchanging world, without making any lifestyle changes, one day a person can be an ideal fit and the next day a misfit.   For example: In 1982, when I studied law at the Queensland Police Academy, homosexuality was a heinous criminal offence within the state. At that time, if you wanted to fit-in with Queensland society you dare not openly admit to practicing or promoting homosexuality. However, at this present time if you want to fit-in with society in Queensland, or any other state of Australia, then you must not be known to hold homophobic views! What was once considered wrong is now considered right.
 
Friends, we were not created to fit-in with the world in which we live. We were created to fit-in with God’s family as His children. Yes, at present we are ‘in’ the world, but we must never be ‘of’ the world! In his commentary, ‘Unlocking the Bible’, David Pawson says, “Christians are misfits and no longer belong in the world. They are actually part of a new species – no longer Homo Sapiens but Homo Novus (new men and women), no longer in Adam, but in Christ” (p1166).
 
Our thoughts and practices are not to reflect the evil one, but the Holy One! The Apostle John says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you” (1 John 2:15). And, Paul says, “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom.12:2).
 
To be classified an ideal ‘fit’ with the world one must continually practice and promote everchanging worldly values. However, if we choose to do this, we will disqualify yourselves from fitting-into the Kingdom of God. In 1976, I decided to conform to God’s way of thinking and living that I may, through Christ, be an acceptable righteous-fit into His Family. In the eyes of the world I will continue to be a misfit, but in the eyes of God ‘I am’ a right-fit! That’s why I am proud to be looked upon by the world as a misfit. 
 
Best wishes,
Bill