LIVING DIFFERENTLY

1 JOHN 2:14-17 NKJV 
14 I have written to you, fathers, 
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. 
I have written to you, young men, 
Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, 
And you have overcome the wicked one. 
15 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. 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. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 

OBSERVATION: 

The writer of this letter was the apostle John. He was considered one of the youngest of the twelve disciples who walked with Jesus. John lived to be old and wrote the gospel of John sixty years after the resurrection of Jesus. He also wrote the book of Revelation.  

John has been called the apostle of love. He writes about this God kind of love frequently in this letter.   

But the verses for today offer another perspective. Not loving. But this is not loving the world. 

John encourages the young men in verse 14 that they are strong and God's word is abiding; we would say living in them. Because of their dedication to God's word, they have overcome Satan.  

But then John shifts to an admonishment regarding the things of this life or the world. He is not talking about the earth but rather the world without God and how it operates.   

We are to love one another but not love this world's ways. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. I like what I heard a man say regarding these three elements of the world. He called it passions for lust of the flesh. Possessions for lust of the eyes. And positions for the pride of life. Passions, possessions, and positions. These can drive us in a direction that is away from God if we give them all our time and attention. Lust is another word for strong desire or craving. So we must keep our craving for passions, possessions, and positions in life under control. 

All of these things of the world will one day pass away. We will not have to keep them in check any longer. Yea! But until that day, we can't let them drive us. What drives us is loving God and doing His will. Those who follow that line of action are in a safe place, forever.   

APPLICATION: 

We live in this world, but we are not of this world. We are looking for an eternal heavenly home, and our primary allegiance is to God's kingdom. Everything around us relating to this world will pass away. All the stuff and the praise of man will one day mean nothing.   

I am not advocating living the life of a monk or one who has renounced everything of this world. Rather, I purpose to live in the world, but not dominated by the forces that drive those who do not know God. God has done a work in our hearts, and we are not the same. So, because we are different, we can live differently. 

PRAYER: 

Heavenly Father help me to live differently. To live worthy of You and the work You have done in my life.