The world is a complicated place. We know God made it and that there is miraculous beauty to behold at ridiculously regular intervals. But we also are aware that misery makes its rounds just as predictably. Paul tells us not to be conformed to this world, the sinful part of this world, meaning the nexus of humanity’s collective sinful nature performing under the orchestration of the Enemy. It is only possible to escape this through the mercy of God. As His mercy to us in the Gospel transforms us, we become the men and women and children God intended us to be: holy and acceptable.