For days now we have been seeing how John the apostle writes about having fellowship with God. John has brought us through the barrier of sin that keeps us from relating to God, he has shared with us who and what to love. He has given us the three areas of temptation unto which we are likely to be subject, and he has begun to describe the difference between things that are eternal and things that are temporary. Today we read what he wrote in First John chapter two and verse seventeen:
And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.
Think for a moment about the first toy that you ever owned. Do you still have it? How about a car, do you still have the same one? What about your clothing from years ago? Is it still in style? Certainly some of these items may be around, but if they are like anything else, they fade away or rust away. Even our money isn't worth what it used to be. Have you noticed how much of our money it takes to buy one gallon of milk or gas today? Here is John's idea, “the world passes away, and the lusts thereof”. Things that are in this world are here today and gone tomorrow. Even the most famous and beautiful after a few years go by are not as famous and in most cases not so beautiful. The reason is that things of the earth are temporary. Things we desire today will be old fashioned or obsolete in just a couple years.
The apostle John gives us advance notice about the things of the world and the lusts for them. He knows they are temporary. Remember that he is around ninety years old when he is writing this book, and he has seen a few temporary things come and go. He contrasts, however, those who do the will of God with these temporary things. He shares with us that doing the will of God “abides” (remains, lasts, continues, endures) forever. Doing the will of God outlasts any temporary substance or activity. Doing the will of God outlasts any fashion, style, life or living. Since it is eternal in nature, doesn't it make sense that we should point our desires in the direction of obeying God?
Maybe today we should examine our lives to determine whether or not we are pursuing temporary or eternal things. After our examination and with the encouragement of John the apostle, perhaps there are a few changes that should be made. Perhaps today can be noted as the day we begin “doing the will of God” and our results will last forever.
Next time we begin a new section buy looking at the world's offering of the antichrist. Read ahead, and we'll meet together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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