Eternal Perspective, Pursuit, and Pleasure

1 John 2:15-17 

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.

After the previous verses of 1 John 2:12-14 have reminded us in different stages of our walk with Christ, we are now further admonished to live separate from the world we live in.  We are involved in the lives of others for the gospel’s sake, but should not allow the trappings to cause us to love what is passing away, since the underpinnings are of the sin which has corrupted all of creation (Romans 8:21-22).  If we love this world or what makes it up, we do not love our Father in heaven according to this passage.  Our love is either for Him, or it attempts to be satisfied with our own sinful desires.  These ill-placed desires for what satisfies our sensual lust, our desires to possess all we see, or our wanting to be masters of our own fate and to harvest our own glory - these all put ourselves and our love over our Lord and His good desires for us.  When we live for self satisfaction, we are worldly and not lovers of God who has delivered us from these things by forgiveness in grace.  It is good to always remember that all these temporary pursuits are temporal, but those of our Savior and Lord are eternal.  If we therefore seek the things above where Christ is (Colossians 3:1), then we have wisely chosen the incorruptible instead of the passing pleasures of sin, knowing we remain forever in Him now and into eternity beyond leaving this world.  Wisdom counts the cost and chooses what remains after this world is judged; we need to be reminded that all we see will be replaced when made new, and choose to do God’s will while doing it in the few years we remain here.  This eternal perspective loves what God loves, and pursues what He commands and greatly desires for our good and His glory.  Our love should be founded on this eternal perspective, pursuit, and pleasure.  Do we take to heart the message of pursuing what God loves, or are we caught up in wanting what is temporary to the loss of rewards for what cannot be lost and which gives glory where it is due?