The World and its Desires Pass Away
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2: 15-17
Living for Christ is far more fulfilling than seeking things of the world. The Lord gives us life to the full when we put him first, while temporary things of the world can never give us life to the full.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) Satan tempts with things of the world to steal us away from God, destroy the full life on earth and eternal life in Heaven, and physically kill us to keep us from God. Many Christians are being killed today because they are Christians, and they are victorious in Christ and great is their reward in Heaven. But how many Christians deny Christ to save their flesh?
Satan is stealing souls by making things of the world their priority instead of Christ being their priority. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 19:23) This statement is true because the rich seek comfort in this world which overrides their desire to serve the Lord with priority because it takes time, sacrifice, motivation, and faith to overcome fear.
This is the spiritual battle we all face, world verses God. Satan tempts us with things of the world and many Christians bounce between things of the world and things of God. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24) We are Christ’s disciples and we are told to deny self, to deny our worldly desires and serve the Lord by following the Holy Spirit. We are to carry our cross when serving the Lord and not let loss of comfort or fear stop us. The problem that we all face is that we don’t want to deny ourselves.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) Living in faith for Christ is the most freeing, fulfilling life we can possible live, knowing this world is not our home but heaven is our home. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) When we put Christ first instead of the world, we experience freedom in Christ. There is nothing in this world that compares being close to Christ and free from the world.
Today, seek to live for Christ following the Spirit, and reflect Christ to everyone. Pray for the Lord’s guidance about world tasks and do them as service to Christ. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (Colossians 3:23) If we fulfill this verse, putting Christ first then we can overcome the world. Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4) Pray and have faith the Lord will help you in the fight to overcome the world.
Prayer: Lord, help me to overcome the world and always give you priority over my will. Guide me in the Spirit and convict me when Satan tries to force my will over your will. Keep me on the narrow road to eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen