The World verses the Spirit
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:17
The purpose of our short earthly life is to live for eternity, and the life we live is given to us in Word of God. But Satan’s biggest weapon is to keep us busy in the world so we forget about eternity or have no time to read the Word, pray, and go to church.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17) God fills us with the Holy Spirit through baptism, and we interface to the world through the Holy Spirit. We can always put Christ first, because we have the Holy Spirit who guides us through life.
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:6-8) Many people live for their fleshly desires, rather than live for Christ, through the Spirit. Satan goal is to pull us away from God by making us live for our sinful fleshly desires.
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. (1 John 2:15-16) God is telling us that our priority should be serving Christ by doing everything for Christ. We interface the world through the Holy Spirit; everything we see and hear goes to the Spirit, and our response comes from the Spirit.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) If we do everything as doing it for the Lord, the we will reflect Christ in everything we do. Christians are a light in this world and reflect Christ to people. As Satan turns the world away from Christ, we can reflect the fruit of the Spirit, because in some parts of the world imprisonment or death awaits Christians who bring Christ into the public.
As Satan seeks to change our focus to things of the World, we seek to serve Christ more, because we know God is sovereign over all creation, and he will protect our soul for eternity. Walk with Christ and live with victory, and Heaven will be your eternal home.
Today, live guided by the Spirit, and interface to the world through the Spirit. Our eternal life depends on living for Christ in this sinful world.
Prayer: Father, help me to live through the Spirit, always doing the will of Christ to my last breath. In Jesus name, Amen