“They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you” (1 Peter 4:4).
Having described what our lives were before we believed in Jesus, Peter describes how the world reacts to the change in our lives. You might think most people would be happy to see the change in our lives but many are not. Once we break out of the herd mentality and begin to stand apart from the ones who live recklessly we are marked as different and often become targets of misunderstanding and abuse.
The world considers us strange. “Surprised” in the NIV is the translation of a Greek word that is used for aliens or foreigners. The KJV translates it, “think it strange.” They view us as aliens. That, in fact, is what we are. In Hebrews 11 people of faith are described by that writer in much the same way. “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13).
As Christians we may be out of step with the world, but Paul points out the other side of the difference Jesus makes when we believe. “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Ephesians 2:19).
When we place our faith in Jesus the world may regard us as strangers and aliens but we are no longer strangers and aliens in God’s eyes. We are part of His family. It seems to me that when we believe we get the far better deal.
