My heart again goes to God’s Word, the most important instruction book, for all to live by in this life. We can consider this book, which is the Holy Bible, as the blueprint for living a holy, pure, and righteous life.
If read, obeyed, and applied in one’s life, it will bring a life of joy, peace, and fulfillment. Yes, it will lead all to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus, full of knowledge and wisdom, on how-to live-in harmony with others and God our creator.
As I look this morning into this most precious book, let us reflect on three scriptures for a moment, found in 1 John 2:15-17 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. For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (KJV).
This command makes an absolute statement, “love not the world.” We are in the world, but as believers, we are not to be of the world. Contrary to some who take the idea of “Don’t love the world too much.”
As stated above, “love not the world.” In other words, not at all. So let me clarify the meaning of “the world,” as stated in this context. The “world” here is not the earth or people, for God so loved the world that He gave His Son to save its people, but the world in context is as a “system,” with its possessions, positions, and pleasures.
1 John, you might say, gives us three classes of temptations, which corresponds to the three ways, in which Satan deceived Eve in Genesis 3:6, and the three ways he tried to deceive Christ in Luke 4:2-12.
Comparison can be made between 1 John 2:15, Genesis 3:16, James 315 and Luke 4:2-12. 1 John 2:16 states, in the world there are:
1) lust of the flesh (body) – good to eat – partake, as earthly – the appetite.
2) lust of the eyes (soul) – good to see, sensual – victory over covetousness.
3) Pride in life (spirit) – good to know – devilish – victory over pride.
It is worthy to note, that everything in this world will pass away, and decay, including our mortal bodies, but of the utmost importance, is that of our souls. Our souls will live forever and be judged.
Satan uses the three classes of temptations in this world, to literally deceive and destroy our body, and ultimately our souls, if we allow, get tangled and intertwined, in worldly affairs and cares of life.
Just as Jesus used the Word of God, as His defense against Satan, so should we, when Satan places these temptations in our pathway. We are to flee from all forms of ungodliness. This is another reason to place (hide) the Word of God into our thoughts, mind, heart, and spirit; for in doing so, when Satan tries to tempt us, we have God’s Word at our beckoning call, and when spoken by faith, becomes alive and active.
Never forget, today, as a born-again believer, we have our Father God, His Son Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, taking up residence in our very being, to guide and lead us into all truth.
Freedom is a precious way of life, but we cannot use this freedom to do what we want. For as Apostle Paul has stated, I cannot do what I want, for somethings are not good for me.
When we keep our mind, thoughts, and spirit on Godly things, we will only do the will of God.
When we keep our minds and thoughts on Godly ways, Satan cannot and will not have his way with us. Praise God for the freedom that comes from Christ in the believer!
Share Life Ministries 