Being "Different"

Recently, I've been listening to audio books in the car as I drive to work. I'm not really a morning person and I find it extremely hard to look forward to the 45 minute drive in crazy rush hour traffic, but listening to a book on the way makes the trip go by faster and keeps me from going insane. My latest book is Ted Dekker's Saint. It's the story of a man who was brainwashed and became a trained mercenary assasin for the X Group, a secret organization in Hungary. Interesting choice, I know. The funny thing is that although the book reads like The Bourne Identity, complete with car chases and snipers, I've been able to glean some very important spiritual truths from it. The main character, Johnny, struggles to accept the fact that he will never be normal. His training and talents have set him apart from the rest of the world. For Johnny, this is a huge tragedy. We human beings want so much to fit in, to be part of a group, to be accepted. Johnny's best friend Samuel tells him that until he accepts that he is a freak, ostracized from society, he will never be able to wield his powers fully. As Christians, we are different. We are freaks. We have been given the amazing power of Jesus' love, and we will never be the same. We are not apart of the world. We are called to be in the world, but not of it. Until we accept this fact, like Johnny, we will never be able to reach others with the Love of Christ. How often in my life I've wanted to fit in. I hate to be thought of as different. I want everyone to accept me, but that's not my goal in life. God has accepted me, and I need to accept my true calling, which is to be set-apart for him. The sooner I learn this, the sooner I can bring greater glory to my Heavenly Father.