Written ~ 10-16-2023
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
When we look at what is going on in the world today, it just seems to be mass chaos. Everyone is trying to get their own way, pushing agendas that everyone needs to fall in line with. To be accepted, your mindset must of the world, anything else and you don’t get the “tolerance” they are requiring of you for their beliefs and lifestyles. Well, I choose Jesus! I choose what verse 2:17b says, “…anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” I don’t want to be a part of those worldly things that will fade away and draw me away from God presence in my life. Listen to how The Message (MSG) puts these verses,
15-17 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
These verses in 1 John are blaringly self-explanatory! As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ there is nothing the world can offer that should ever take the place of the Lord in your life. Read these verses with your own life in mind. What do you still cling to that only the world is offering? It may not be something you can hold in your hands, but an attitude, a thought process that leads you further down a path towards wickedness, sometimes without you even realizing it!
As we think about the things that please God, let’s be reminded that the Holy Spirit within us will guide us on the path towards the Lord and only towards the Lord. So paying attention to what actions, attitudes and thoughts we play out will give a huge clue as to who we’re listening to. The Lord? Or the world.
As for me, I don’t want to isolate myself from the Lord, there is no other place I would rather be than nestled into the arms of Jesus. His presence in my life is what I yearn for, when I wake each day it’s the Lord who I look forward to greeting!
In verse 2:16, the word crave is used for the desire placed on the things the world offers. Let’s see what the word crave means…
- To ask for earnestly: beg, demand
- To want greatly: need
- To yearn for
- To have strong or inward desire
Synonyms for craving are ~ ache for; hunger for; long for; itch for; lust after; wish for.
Let’s think about our physical bodies for a moment, at times, we might have a craving for something sweet or maybe a plateful of french fries and we indulge in that craving, maybe even over do it a little bit. For that moment we may satisfy that craving, but we will, more than likely, crave more. The more we give into that strong craving the more we might indulge. The more we give into that craving the more we may set a path towards an unhealthy lifestyle. I’m giving this type of example because it may be one that all of us can relate to. So if we apply the same type of craving to the things of this world, you can imagine the tailspin of greed and egotism that can be produced when we give into that “I want, I want, I want” attitude.
This is what happens when you give into the pleasures of the world:
“…when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you… These are not from the Father, but are from this world. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world… has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him.”
When we read the Bible and an instruction is given to us, like the one here in 1 John, we have a choice. A choice to continue to follow the cravings and indulges the world provides or we can follow Christ on a path towards eternal life.
If you find yourself in a constant need of satisfying your “cravings” with what the world offers, maybe it’s time to look at what Jesus offers… see here in John 6:35,
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.”
Jesus will satisfy each one of our cravings. We just need to look to Him first. Before we get ourselves entangled with what the world is offering. So if we are craving the things of the Father, we are yearning for His presence in our lives, we are longing for understanding and knowledge of the Scriptures, we will be headed towards a life forever pleasing God! Don’t be a part of a world that is “fading away,” be apart a Kingdom that is Eternal!
Thank You Father for giving me the wisdom to seek after You! Help me in those moments when the temptations of the world seem to catch my eye. I want only to seek Your Face and go after the things that lay up treasures in Heaven. Help me to remember Who it is I am serving, and to seek after those things that are worthy of You. Help me keep in mind what it says in Matthew 6:19-20, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, … Store your treasures in heaven…”
Help me Father to always produce in my life, goodness and love, peace and joy. I never want to be apart of a world that is fading, I want Your Kingdom.
~AMEN~
If you are examining your life and you have realized that it is the world you crave. Maybe it’s time to turn your focus onto the Bread of Life. Have Jesus fulfill all of your cravings, have the Lord be the one you long for. The Father in Heaven is waiting for you, He wants to call you son or daughter. Whether you have never thought to give your life over to Jesus or maybe you have walked off the path and veered off into a life indulging in worldly pleasures, it’s time to turn your eyes back on Him, the One who gives you life. Come to Jesus, right where you are, right now, with all of your “stuff.” You can hand it over to Him and start your way on a path towards the eternal Kingdom of God!
My prayer for you is that you will pray this prayer of Salvation, that you will realize your need for Jesus…
Dear Jesus, You know my heart, all the things I have done and said. Please forgive me for my unbelief. Please forgive me for all of my sins. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You came to earth to die on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose from the dead to give me freedom from sin and death. By faith through believing in Who You Are, I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life, cleanse this heart of mine, white as snow. Help me not to doubt any longer and breathe life into me, fill me with Your light. Thank You Jesus! Amen.
If you solemnly prayed this prayer, tell at least one person, so they can share in your joy!! I rejoice with you! All the angels in Heaven rejoice with you! And just as Jesus said, “Peace be with you.”