DON’T LOVE WORLD

By Rick Mathes

1 John 2:15-17 (NASB) ¹⁵ Do not love the world nor the things in the world.

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. ¹⁷ The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Satan hasn’t changed his method of operation since the garden when he tempted Eve with her eyes, then tasting she was too proud to repent so she enticed Adam to join her in her sin. Eyes, flesh and pride are the horsemen of temptation. I can hear their hoof-beats and they are approaching you closer every day you commit your soul to Jesus.

When you were deep in sin, lost and tossed aside, you had a little moron devil snoozing in charge of you. But when you turn your eyes to Jesus, an army of howling hell-hounds got on your trail to tear you apart and devour your relationship with the King of kings. Can you smell the sulphur? Do you feel the flame licking at your heals? Can you understand that you are only held back by the slender thread of your faith?

In the wilderness Jesus was tempted to change stones into bread, jump off the temple building to prove He was the Son of God and challenged to worship Satan in exchange for all the kingdoms of the earth. How similar our temptations are to this moment!

Your eyes are the window to sin. The look isn’t the sin; the lingering of eyes is. Then when you have gazed long enough, your flesh grabs you, you have to taste and have some more. Then you become to prideful to change. “I can handle it this time” is the biggest lie from hell you will ever hear.

I have learned to love the Lord more than the sin. It’s that simple.

When I am in a convenience store on a hot day and see the beer on display, I look away and say “This one’s for you!” and walk away.

When I see a pretty girl and am tempted to mentally undress her, I look away and say, “This one’s for you!” and turn my eyes.

When I smell some marijuana floating though the air, I turn away and say, “This one’s for you” and keep on walking.

As long as you love the Lord 51% and the devil 49% you are well on your way to conquer the eyes, flesh and pride. You may not be the person you ought to be but thank you Jesus you are not the person you once were. Press on!