What Will We Choose?

I John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

"Do not love the world." To love the world means to find contentment with it. It means to be entertained by it, and hold it in a place of priority in our lives. To love the world and the things of this world means to put it before all else and everyone else, including God. John warns us about the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Why does he do this? Because these were the very things that caused the fall of man. When Satan tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, he used these three. She looked at it with a desire to taste it (lust of the flesh). She desired to gain what she felt she was being deprived from and deserved (lust of the eyes); and wanted to be something she wasn't. She wanted to be like God (pride of life). Sadly, she believed the devil's lies and didn't realize that she and Adam were already created in God's image. When we love the world and what it offers, we end up pleasing the flesh, and sin against God. We seek after riches and material gain, and abandon our relationship with God. We start to believe that we don't really need God, as long as we have plenty of money and material things. We become prideful and arrogant as we gain more wealth, status, and prestige in society, even if that prestige is in our own little circle of influence. John clearly tells us that none of this is of the Father. Far too often many of God's people are trading eternal gain and reward for things that will not last. All that we gain in this world can disappear in the blink of an eye. When we are gone, it all stays behind. We cannot serve both God and riches. We must choose whether we will live a life having a love affair with the world or with God. I pray that we choose God.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).