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 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.
The believer is a citizen of two countries – the heavenly and earthly ones. However, he/she is more a citizen of heaven who temporarily resides in this world. We are in this world on assignment, and the Bible calls us ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). How absurd it would be then for one sent on a mission to get comfortable.
To so desire their country of residence that they no longer want to go back home. This, unfortunately, has become the reality of many.
Yet the Bible cautions us against loving the world or the things that are in the world. We are meant to be home sick, and our hearts ought to be longing for home. But when our hearts are totally invested in this world, the Bible tells us that the love of the Father is not in us. When our lives are guided merely by worldly principles as opposed to the principles of the Kingdom, then we do not accurately represent our home country. John reveals what drives the world – lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. This is the driving force of our consumerist culture. It is also what led Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit:
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), and that it was a delight to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise (pride of life), she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6).
The Christian cannot be driven by these things. They cannot be caught up in the same rut that everyone else is caught up in. They must be distinct. They must be separate. Consequently, everything about us will be unique – how we work; how we do marriage; how we parent; how we relate with one another; how we handle money; how we talk; how we spend time; how we treat leisure; how we treat those who oppress us; how we respond to the authorities in place; ad infinitum.
We do well to take heed of these chilling words, “…Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4).
Reflections
1. Are you home sick?
2. How do you conduct your life on some of the things mentioned above? Is it different from how the rest of the world does?
