FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD

Sunday 16

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
Read: Galatians 5:16-25; 1 John 2:12-17

The things of the world that are being lusted after or for are not of God the Father. The word lust in the passage simply means desire or longing. The Greek word for lust in the passage is epithumia; it means a longing—especially for what is forbidden. It also means concupiscence, desire, and lusting after.

Because the word lust is usually used for sexually related sins, some have thought that when lust is mentioned, you are talking about sexual sin. Whatever is not God’s Will for you that you are strongly desiring to have is a lust. It means you want to have the thing even if it is against God’s Will or Word.

Lust of the flesh is about what your flesh is desirous of (Galatians 5:24); whilst the lust of the eyes is about things that are appealing to your eyes, but are not edifying, and thus not approved by God for you (1 Corinthians 10:23). And the pride of life talks about things that fan your ego. Things that make you vaunt or boast (2 Corinthians 12:5,6).

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 These things about lustfulness fall under things that your human nature crave for. A believer should endeavour to crucify the flesh—deny the flesh, the human nature—and whatever it is craving or longing for (Galatians 5:24).

A believer who wants to satisfy the flesh or the human nature, that is, satisfy the passions and desires of the human nature cannot please God (Romans 8:8).

One of the major areas of your life which you have to deal with at new birth is the crucifixion of the flesh; learning not to grant the desires and passions of the flesh (Galatians 5:24). There is no how, the flesh or human nature would still want to be desiring for what you used to do as an unbeliever, but such desires should not be granted (Galatians 5:24). This is why you should not allow what would stimulate or arouse your desires for such things.

Many are born-again and they are positionally identified with Christ Jesus but they are yet to be identified with Christ experientially. In other words, they have not experienced oneness with Christ Jesus in their practical Christian living.

When you are still lusting for all that is in the world, the Bible says, the love of the Father God is not in you (1 John 2:15). Because the things of the world being lusted for are of the world, not of the Father, and the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but whoever is doing the will of God will abide forever (1 John 2:17).

Being trendy as a believer might not be outrightly bad but when all your desires and aspirations are all about things in vogue which are the ephemeral—superficial, or popular for a short time—it means your attention has been shifted from God. Of course, God would not say you should look tattered and unkempt but when all you think about is being acceptable to men through how you look, your appearance; It means your attention is no longer with God and His kingdom.

Remember, all those things are passing away with the world, thus, they should not be your main focus but God and His kingdom (2 Peter 3:10,11).

Reflect:

• Which of the three — lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, or the pride of life — do you struggle with most?
• What is one desire you need to consciously refuse to feed this week?

Peace.

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