“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.” (1 John 2:15 NKJV)
How would you respond if I met you on the street and asked you the following question? “What is the biggest lie in our culture right now?”
Although there may be several possible answers, I suggest this one: “There is no love that is wrong or out of bounds. If it’s love, it’s a good thing.” And yet, the first three words of the verse above are “DO NOT LOVE!” That sounds like a command, and so it is. Even though believers are commanded to love, we see these three seemingly contradictory words and are very uncomfortable with them.
John is not talking about the created world or the people in the world. But he talks about the Satanic world system that opposes Christ, the kosmos.
Shocking statement: Love can be sinful. But how can followers of Jesus know if something they love is “of the kosmos” and is separating us from the Father? There are two tests to help us understand whether our love for someone or something is opposed to God:
If it is directed toward the wrong object. When your love is aimed at the world, it points at things that oppose God and are passing away.
If it comes from the wrong source. If we continue to read beyond the verse above, we see this:
“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 of the world.” (1 John 2:17 NKJV)
If our desires fail either or both of the tests above, does this mean God is a cosmic killjoy? Does it mean He is keeping us from “the good stuff?” No. That is a BIG FAT LIE.
Blessings,
Dan
Comments