When The World Works Upon Your Weaknesses

In 1 John 2:15-17, the apostle lays out our priorities in no uncertain terms. Satan will use the oldest tricks in the book, literally, to turn our eyes away from God and His blessings in our lives. The devil tries to exploit our weaknesses, goading us into doing what we know is wrong simply because it looks and feels good at the time. John's words to believers shake up what society says is right and good and show us the deep contrast of how beautiful and perfect God's will is in our lives.

 Love not the world... even when it is closing in around us. The world will work upon your weaknesses, lying to you about things that will satisfy you if you'll just try them. Loving the world is the opposite of loving God with all your heart.

 Neither the things that are in the world... even when they are bigger, brighter, shinier and more beautiful than anything you've ever seen. The things of the world will never satisfy, but will leave you longing for more.

 If any man loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him... God is more than enough, His love is enough and His blessings are enough.  Turning our love over to the world means that we're taking away our love from God and telling Him we've found something better.

 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh... this is the root of so many sins, like sexual immorality, theft and envy. The flesh is terribly greedy, craving more and more until we're so overcome by the junk of the world that there's no room left for the Lord.

 And the lust of the eyes... we fill our eye gates with everything we can. The fruit looked shiny and pretty to Eve's eyes, so it was easy for Satan to tempt her into eating it. Seeing leads to wanting and wanting can lead to a need to have, own and possess no matter what it takes.

 And the pride of life... the motives and values that push us. The world says titles and fortunes and possessions show our worth, but God says pride is sin to begin with, but pride over what we've done and accomplished on our own separates from Him. There is nothing in the world that rivals Him in blessings, honor and love.

 Is not of the Father, but is of the world... there is nothing of the world that compares to what God can provide. They will always be polar opposites, and wanting the things of the world will always turn our minds and our hearts away from the Lord. Then we are no longer focused on Him but on what we could have or want to have.

 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof... what a fading, fleeting thing the junk of the world is. The things that are wonderful and popular and beautiful now will all turn to dust in light of eternity. Those things that make the world feel good and look good will be nothing in the twinkling of an eye.

 But he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever... the only things that last are the souls we have led to Christ. We allow God to work in us and through us, and His desires become our desires. This is the only way what we do in this life matters, because it's definitely not through the things of the world. God is the one we will spend eternity with, not with the junk we've collected or the fun stuff we've done. When we're on the path God wants to walk with us, we know that we're doing exactly what He wants us to do. And that's how we abide, staying connected to the vine of Christ and looking forward to spending all of eternity in His presence.


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