The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17 (NIV)
A Life That's Beyond The Here and Now – Part 1
What did John mean by the word “world” in this scripture? Who and what are set to pass way? Was he referring to people who don’t have faith in Jesus, as in the ‘secular’? Did he mean the actual physical world? Sinners? Are his creations temporary? Was it all designed with destruction in mind? Are some collateral damage? Are some sacrificed for others? Are some not worthy? And what group am I in? Whoever does the will of God lasts forever, but how can I know for sure that what I’m doing is the will of God?
(All those question marks are a little insight into my brain… pray for my husband. Ha!)
The Bible tells us that God created the world and that all of his creations praise him. The sky, sun, moon and stars, along with the oceans, the mountains, rivers and valleys, and the all the animals that filled all of those spaces; as they were created one by one, they bore witness to what came next. They watched as the eternal author wrote life into being and set the world spinning into a beautiful harmony. There’s a sense that the elements understand the glory of God. They hum to his song and beat along with his rhythm. This is particularly illustrated through the Psalms.
John wrote that in a secret midnight meeting, Jesus said to Nicodemus,
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.” (John 3:16-17 MSG).
When we think about those who are “saved” and those who “are not,” it’s easy for us to take an impersonal perspective. Especially if we think our future is assured. In extreme cases, I’ve heard “Christians” talk gleefully about those who are lost and don’t know Christ and what their end will be. An “Us and Them” mentality dwells among us.
But does God view it that way? Did he mean the “whole world” when he was speaking with Nicodemus in the dead of night? Did He change His mind? Did he suddenly decide that the world wasn’t worth His time?
It’s got nothing to do with opposites; Jesus wasn’t being dualistic or taking sides. He was addressing what we hold most valuable. This world is temporary and is fading away, passing through time. Other translations use the word “lust’ instead of ‘desires,’ and it’s not just talking about sexual lust. Lust is when you’re consumed with getting something for yourself at any cost, disregarding the wants and needs of others. The epitome of selfishness.
The world and all of its lusts; a life of selfishness, a life taking, taking, taking; a life of abusing and manipulating others to get your way – all of that will come to nothing but destruction.
But a life that serves others; a life that is generous, a life that gives even at its own expense: that's a life that will last beyond the here and now.
Go to Part 2 – Faith, hope and love – the opposite of lust, taking and abusing »
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