Do not love the world or it's stuff

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

What a prize one who is in Christ has to look forward to each day, and yet it seems often you and I live as if our faith is veiled.  Often, way too often, my life gets entangled with this world, and in doing so I forget to recall these words from 1 John 2:15-17, “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. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Let me put it in South Texas language so I can understand it; Bob when you love stuff and begin to believe your God’s special gift, son you have no room left for joy or peace, you love what is not able to love back, and all that stuff is passing away, but the good news is I still love you, and when I see you coming to me in brokenness I will run to meet you.

As we look at verse 12, we who have Christ living in us, and His Spirit as our Helper and Comforter have a hope that many are trying to attain by good works, through religion, and by even blowing themselves up, and killing others believe they are serving a god.  So in that we have the Spirit of Truth alive in us should we not be bold, should we not make sure our faith is unveiled? 

In my life I’ve come to grips with the fact only when I get the attitude of being one of the most needed, do I run to Jesus?  Many a person who goes by the title of a

Christ follower has not come to grips with the message from the apostle John,  “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” You and I dream of freedom, and each day it seems we are willing as a country to allow more of it taken from us, and why because of fear, fear of what has not happened but could.

If you desire freedom, could it be looking to government or leaders who are not promise keepers, is that not foolish?  Putting your hope in judges, or political parties is also foolish, so what is the answer?  Keep reading for it is found in verses17-18, “Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”  We have the Spirit of the Lord, not the stuff that is going to rust and die, do you know Jesus is He alive in you?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice