1 John 2:17: The World is Passing Away

1 John 2:17
[17] And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

Perhaps you have heard the expression, "I've never seen a U-Haul pulled behind a hearse." The fact is, we cannot take our earthly possessions with us when we die. The Egyptian kings were all buried in tombs filled with their riches. Those kings are gone. Their bodies decomposed, even those that were mummified. Do you know what is still here? Their riches! Although many have been stolen.

The Apostle John gives us yet another reason why we are not to pursue the worldly system with its desires. What the world offers is temporal. What God offers is eternal. It is amazing how enamored we are with worldly things. We are jealous of the house that our neighbor has. We are envious of someone else's career. We think that if we only had that promotion, or got that new car, or had some other new gadget we would experience true bliss.

The world and its desires are passing away. Any benefit that you receive from the world is temporal. It really is no surprise when you hear of rock stars, movie stars, and business tycoons who have gained all that the world has to offer and yet they take their own lives in hopeless despair. They sought true satisfaction in what the world had to offer only to find out that any desires fulfilled by the world are temporary and not lasting.

Friend, if you belong to Jesus, you have an eternal hope. You have a joy that will last for all eternity. Your position is secure. You do not have to chase fleeting desires. You can be poor in this world and be rich beyond measure in the world that really counts. I will close with these wonderful words from the Apostle Paul:

Colossians 3:1–4
[1] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (ESV)

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

Search This Blog