“The world and its desires pass away”

In 1 John 1 and 2 it’s black and white: we’re either walking in the light or walking in darkness, living by the truth or living a lie, and either living in the light or stumbling around blindly in the darkness. And again in 1 John 2:15, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” It’s either love the world or love the Father. And in verse 17, “The world and its desires pass away, but (in direct contrast again) the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

Two completely different and opposite worlds, one of which comes to a permanent end, while the other one continues on forever. So how do we detect which world is which, and which world is better?  

John’s simple answer is: “Look at the desires each world creates.” In John’s terms the evil one’s world creates “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride” (16) – exactly the same three lusts, or desires, that the evil creature created in Adam and Eve. God said if they ate the fruit it would kill them, but the evil one focused their attention instead on the fruit being good to eat, how good it looked, and how clever and wise it would make them. And all thoughts of God were swept away in the flood of their newly awakened, but entirely selfish, desires. 

With that success so easily pulled off, it’s not surprising to see the evil one trying the same three things on Jesus. First, he tries to get the starving Jesus to turn rocks into freshly baked bread. “That should get him,” the devil must’ve thought, “the old lust of the flesh trick.” Jesus fended that one off, however, so the evil one takes Jesus to a high spot and offers him everything his eyes can take in – the old well-worn and highly successful “lust of the eyes” trick. But – saving the best ‘til last, Luke 4:9 – the evil one appeals to Jesus’ pride. If Jesus truly was the Son of God, he could easily prove it by throwing himself off the highest point of the temple mount and angels would catch him. 

How tempting that must’ve been for Jesus to do too, because it was true, angels would catch him (10-11), and that would put the devil in his place all right. But Jesus resisted, because in satisfying all three of what the devil was tempting him to do, what would Jesus have gained? Nothing, because as John wrote: “That world and its desires pass away” (17). It’s all temporary. But what makes the other opposite world any better? According to John, it’s not temporary, nor is it self-focused. It’s about “A permanent world of love”….(next blog)