Stop Loving the World

In 1 John 2:15-17 the apostle John writes to the believers in Asia Minor regarding a problem that you and I must contend with -- worldliness. There were some in the fellowship who claimed "to have fellowship with Him" but were walking in darkness (see 1:6). John writes to correct this problem by telling them to "not love the world" or more literally to "stop loving the world or the things in the world" (v.15). The world with its lusts and passions will seek to lure you into its path of deception but you must overcome by remembering that this "is not of the Father but of the world" (v.16). Notice its source -- the world! But notice its end: "And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (v.17). Are you willing to trade loves? Are you willing to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Mat.22:37)? If not you cannot belong to Him. "Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (Jas.4:4). And no enemy has any inheritance in the kingdom of God. Examine yourself today! "Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you are disqualified" (2 Cor.15:5).