Imitating the world has always been a problem for the Lord’s people.  Ever since God separated a people unto Himself, they have gravitated toward the ungodly behavior of those around them.   Moses warned them about this.

Exodus 23:2 (NKJV)
² You shall not follow a crowd to do evil…

In the end, this warning fell on deaf ears.  The Jews did follow a crowd to do evil.  After Moses, Joshua, and the elders who outlived Joshua, died, the people began to serve false gods.

Judges 2:11–12 (ESV)
¹¹ And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.

¹² And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.

A part of the people’s problem was a desire to be like the people around them, that is, a problem that they never really overcame (1 Samuel 8:1-22).

We still seem to have the same problem as the Israelites had.  We are far too easily influenced by this world, something about which the Bible specifically warns us.

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The word conform means to act in agreement with or go along with prevailing customs.  This is something avoided by those who have a pilgrim mentality.  When one realizes that this world is only temporary, he understands that worldly fashions and habits are of little value in the long run and are, therefore, not worth the pursuit.  Paul understood this.  Notice what he did with this world.

Galatians 6:14 (ESV)
¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Paul did not want to be like the world because it lost its attraction to him.  The world was dead to him because he crucified it.

Do you have the pilgrim’s mentality?  If so, you have already crucified the world.  If, instead, you find yourself trying to be like the world, walking and talking like it, it is a sign that you have not developed the mentality of the pilgrim and have, therefore, become far too attached to the world.

Do you dress in worldly apparel, that is, immodestly?  Do you speak like the world, using filthy language to express yourself?  Do you engage in worldly activity, participating in recreation and entertainment that is sinful, and that puts you in the company of sinful people?  Have you conformed to this world?  If you have the pilgrim mentality, you have answered no to all these questions.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.