Is That Relevant?

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

It is very easy to find oneself intimidated by the fear of becoming irrelevant in an ever-changing world. But I sometimes see raised eyebrows that seem to ask, "Is that relevant?" when, in a room full of unbelievers (or even Christians!), I dare to interject a Biblical principle into the conversation. It is then that I am tempted to ask, “Relevant to what?” Or perhaps more accurately, "Relevant to whom?"

Something is said to be relevant when it has some bearing on the matter at hand, which leads us to the obvious conclusion that it does not take long for something that was once relevant to become irrelevant. Therefore, the way I see it, the quickest way for me to become truly irrelevant is to focus so much on current culture and its popular ideas of manners and standards of morality that I lose sight of those things that are always relevant.

Such verses as Mark 8:36 serve to put things in perspective for us. There is nothing as important (or relevant) as the relationship of our eternal souls to the God from which they came; for there is nothing one could gain in this life that would make up for the loss of our never-dying soul. If that be the case, failing to bring the unchanging reality of God and His Word into any conversation of substance is the epitome of irrelevance, wouldn't you say?

I understand the need to be aware of what is going on in the world around us at any given time, but I also know that the fashions of this world soon go out of style, and lust items change with the seasons. According to 1 Corinthians 7:31 and 1 John 2:17, only men and women fulfilling God’s eternal purpose for their lives are truly on the cutting edge of reality. They are the ones who are now—and always will be—relevant.

"[F]or the fashion of this world passeth away" (ICor.7:31)

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever" (1Jno.2:17).