The World
Scripture Reading: 1 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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
It might seem that verses like this run contrary to what John tells us Jesus said to Nicodemus as recorded in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life.
Since the Apostle John wrote both the Gospel of John and First John, we can assume he wasn’t being wishy-washy about the world. He wasn’t saying, “God loves the world, but don’t you dare love the world.”
John was using the word “world” in two different senses. In First John, John is using the word to characterize a sphere of the world that is in rebellion against God. He isn’t talking about the world as a planet either. He is talking about a system of chaotic, satanic, society made up of unregenerate humanity.
This system is hostile to godliness and holiness. It is a system driven by power, wicked ambition, pride, carnal desires, and self-pleasing. These things don’t come from God. They are not from above, but from below.
Look around…All that lust and pride produces is passing away. Don’t give your heart and life to that which will not last.
Do God’s will. His will abides forever.
