For a few lessons now we have been looking at the writings of John the apostle and what he has to say about having fellowship with God. In the last few verses, John has been sharing with us the things we are to love and the things we are not to love. We are not to love the world neither the things in the world or the love of the Father is not in us. Yesterday we looked at one of those things that are in the world – the lust of the flesh. Today John addresses another area – the lust of the eyes. He writes in First John chapter two and verse sixteen:
For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
It is important to realize that what we allow our eyes to see influences our desires. If we have a passion toward something it often is as a result of seeing that thing. For example, if we desire a new car, it is usually because we have seen that new car and now a desire for it is planted within us. It may be a new watch, wardrobe, candy, jewelry, or another person, and the lust to have it or them grows inside. Now in and of themselves these things are not necessarily wrong, sinful or bad, but when we lust for them more than obedience to the Heavenly Father, we are not of the Father but of the world.
When the devil tempted Eve in the garden, the book of Genesis chapter three and verse six says:
And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
The woman “saw” and “it was pleasant to the eyes”. This was the beginning of the fall of mankind. It was through her eyes that desire grew within her, and she eventually succumbed to sin.
When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness as written in the book of Luke, chapter four and verse five:
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
The devil “showed” Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. He tried to persuade Jesus through the same means he does us. However, Jesus was victorious over the devil's temptation. The eighth verse of the same chapter in Luke tells us:
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Remember, John the apostle is sharing with us the way to have fellowship with God. He knows. He has experience at this point in his life, and he had the advantage of being discipled by Jesus personally. John's warning to all of us can be put into the simplest phrase of a children's song: “Oh be careful little eyes what you see...”
At another time we shall look at the third desire that is in the world. Today's lesson should be enough to think about for now.
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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