Not of This World

Introduction

"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:19)

Growing up, I have always been different. I have always been the odd one out, the zebra in the pony show; I have never been like anyone else. Well, I guess that is bound to happen when you have one of the most uncommon names (Genevieve) in the U.S., are left handed, have always been one of the tallest kids in the grade, and don't live in the same neighborhood as everyone you go to school with. In elementary school being different never really bothered me, because at that age everyone is friends with each other and no one cares where you live or what label is on your clothes. But as I reached middle school being different suddenly wasn't as appealing. In fourth grade, I hit puberty before any of the other girls in my grade did. So when all the other girls didn't have to worry about breakouts, I had a face full of acne. Being the tallest (and the curviest) girl in the grade also didn't give me much luck because I always stood out, and in fifth grade I was bullied for being "the biggest girl in the grade" (which was just code for "fat"). Sometimes I let the mean words get to me, and would wish that I could just be "normal" and "fit in" like everyone else. Though during the summer before 6th grade, the summer that I accepted Christ as my Savior, I began to fall in love with not only Jesus but standing out for Him, I began to like being different. During the fall of my 8th-grade year, I decided to take a step of faith and give my testimony in front of my whole grade and teachers (a hundred people). Though I was congratulated in person, online I was bullied for my faith. With standing out for God, came rejection and hurt. Though while the haters were loud, God's love was louder and I knew I had done the right thing. Shining for Christ in a world of darkness is not easy, and God tells us that we will be rejected, hurt, and persecuted for it (2nd Timothy 3:12, Matthew 5:10), but the light that we can bring to others is brighter than the fire of our persecutors.

If there is one thing you should know before reading this book is that it is not easy, and God never promised it would be. We will never fit into this world, for we are not of this world, but we can help others fit into the Kingdom of God. We can be the light in this dark world. For we are the salt of the earth, we are a city on a hill that can not be hidden (Matthew 5:13-14). We are not of this world.