Worlds Apart
Today’s Verse:
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. ~1 John 5:19
When two people have a disagreement on a serious matter, they might describe their situation as being “worlds apart.” When this occurs, they are very far from coming to any kind of an agreement. As we consider God’s will for our life, we quickly realize that living for Jesus and living for this life are worlds apart.
We see the condition.
“The whole world lieth in wickedness.” The world we live in is wicked. Its goal is to entice us into covetousness and pursuing what satisfies our flesh. The world system is described as “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Someone described the wickedness of this world this way: “The world thrills and then it kills: it fascinates and then it assassinates.” There is nothing about the world’s philosophy that seeks after God.
We see a conflict.
“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” (1 John 2:15). If you are saved, this world is in complete conflict with Jesus. We are commanded to not love the world nor the things of the world. This does not mean that we isolate ourselves and live an ascetic life. However, it does mean that we are not to allow ourselves to be infatuated with excess accumulation, excess acumen, or becoming famous for our accomplishments. When we are in love with this world, there is a loss of love for the Lord. In fact, God sternly described worldliness as being spiritually adulterous and at enmity with God.
We see a conquest.
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). When we get saved, we are born into victory. This victory is through our faith. Moses is a powerful example of this. “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). Faith is living for God with our eyes fixed on Jesus as the goal. This world is like Goliath shouting disgusting threats to get us to throw down our arms and surrender. Like David, our faith enables us to stand up to this giant. and with one sling, we can defeat him with the stone of faith.
We see a conclusion.
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). This world is temporary and transitory. The fads and trends of this world are not permanent. They pass away. There is nothing satisfying and lasting about it. The other day, my wife and I were asking a parts clerk about a certain household appliance. He reminded us that the part we were considering had a life expectancy of just a few years. Don’t throw your life into chasing this world, only to realize that it brings no lasting satisfaction and it pays no real dividends. What is permanent is the will of God! God’s will is God’s best for our life. God’s will is good, perfect, and acceptable. However, God’s will must be obeyed and executed. If we are out of God’s will, we are doing the wrong things for the wrong master, and we will receive the wrong results.
The Christian life and the world’s philosophy are worlds apart. They will never meet. They will never agree. They will always be enemies. We are in the world, but we are not to be of the world.
Have a victorious God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 146-150