"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."I John 2:15-17
The apostle here tells his beloved readers not to love the world nor the things that are in it. Why? The world itself is a creation of God and we are commanded to love our neighbors who also inhabit the world. But John clarifies so that we cannot deny the truth that is laid out here; do not love the things that are not from God. Sin has run its course on this world since Adam, bringing about all manner of lusts, and because of this the world will one day perish. Things corrupt and fade away now as a shadow of that final corruption and dissolving that this world will do in the end. The works of sin will fade away and perish also.
God's children are not of this world. We were born in this world and we live here for now but we are a called out people who are just passing through this world because through Jesus Christ our home is glorious Heaven. Only the works done for Christ will last forever. Why would we Christians love things that will some day dissolve away when those things are against our holy Father?
Do you often find yourself considering things that are not yours wishing you had them? Do you often find yourself wanting to gain glory and praise for yourself and not for God? Pray, repent, and diligently seek Christ that you may love and obey Him for whoever does, as the Word of God says, he will abide forever. And even this is not of yourselves, so that you cannot boast. Even this is a precious gift from God almighty to whom all glory is ascribed!
1 comment:
You hit it on the head! So often we covet and call it something else. It is nothing but recycled "love of the world" I pray for discernment, because I too fall prey to the draw of the world when it is painted like something good. From the new movie "Noah" to "The Son of God" we get such a wishy washy view of God and the Bible that it is no wonder Christians are so confused. May God help us to love Him, and not the World!
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