Bible Reading: Psalm 18, 1 John 2: 10-16
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world” – 1 John 2: 15-16(KJV)
As citizens of the heavenly kingdom who are ambassadors of Christ it is not expected of us to be emotionally and spiritually attached to the world. The world’s value and belief system runs contrary to God’s instructions, ordinances and commandment that are properly documented in the scriptures. The value system, belief system, social system, culture, tradition, human government and relationships etc. are what make up the world. The things that are in the world are goods and services that are provided for on daily basis. The world system is dominated by flaws due to man’s imperfect state. When God created Adam and eve and put them in EDEN they were engulfed by light. They were in the dispensation of innocence and reflected the true spiritual light. When sin came in, innocence was lost, and complexity and intricacy moved in, the human system was distorted and confusion set in. The world of corruption, complication, violence, murder and unrighteousness crept in and began to pollute man with the lust for power, lust for riches, lust for self. Greed and insatiable lust for power and wealth was used by the devil to further enslave humanity. Wars initiated by the inordinate ambition of men were fought resulting in the death of millions of souls. This is the world that we should not love nor be attached to because we are citizens of a higher domain that is ruled in righteousness and peace. We are the ambassadors of peace, grace and love and must strive to maintain the identity of our kingdom here on earth. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us…..” – 2 Corinthians 5: 20(KJV).
The person who delights in the above enumerated worldly activities cannot walk with God. You cannot love the world’s system and please God. You cannot be lustful for power and be true to serve God. The mad crave for wealth has many evil attachments which cannot agree with divine injunctions.
Dear reader, it was for this purpose that Christ came to redirect us to God. He came to re-route us to God. He came to remove the filthy rag of sin from our life and wear us the garment of righteousness. He shed His precious blood to redeem us back to God. He was the propitiation for our sin so that through Him we can live a holy life manifesting the fruit of the Spirit.
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to live in this world but not of this world.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo