Fade to Black
Scripture Reading: 1 John 2:17
The world is passing away along with its desires…
John tells us what he means by “world” in verse 16:
For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life…”
In brief, this is everything humanity outside of Christ loves. The passions, possessions, and pride of man make up what John means when he says “world.” He is not so much thinking of the earth, as he is the wicked systems of a fallen world that always seeks to overthrow the rightful ruler of the world, Jesus Christ. That is not to say that the physical world isn’t implicated in this. Peter tells us this present world will be burned up.
John’s point is that the things that press in on our souls and seek to make themselves our primary focus, the things that everyone in places of prominence will tell you are important, are all passing away. They have the seeds of death in them.
So, why give your life to them? You have a limited amount of time and resources. Your energy, love, gifts, and life are not infinite. Why give all of that to something that will not last? More importantly, why give all that you are to something that “is not of the Father?”
Paul likened the outcome of this life to be either like wood, hay, and stubble or gold, silver, and precious stones. Everything will be tested in a way that is akin to going through a refiner’s fire. The wood, hay, and stubble will be consumed and disappear like smoke rising from the ashes and dissipating into the sky. Only those works which are like gold, silver, or precious stones will endure the fire. And it will be purified, for none of us does anything perfectly.
Therefore, give yourself to that which lasts. As C.T. Studd wrote in his poem by the same title:
Only one life, twill soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
