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)
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