Love Not The World

Nor the things in it.

Is it normal? Human Nature? To LOVE the World. To LOVE the things in it? To dream of having more and more of it? Money, Things, Lusts, Living Life "To the fullest." "Hey, you only got one life. Live it up." Right?

Well, Yes. Yes it is Human Nature. Yes it is normal. We are born into and of the World. Of course we want it all. However, if you are now a Child of God, you are no longer OF the World, but merely in it. Remember the Tenth Commandment?

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." {Exodus 20:17}

Ahab coveted Naboth's field, which lead to bearing false witness, which lead to the Murder of Naboth. David coveted Bathsheba, which lead to Uriah being killed for the Sin of David. It also cost David the life of his Son. You see, when you start coveting something, it then leads to other Sins. Thoughts, Deeds, Death.

Jesus warned us of this as well..

"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." {Luke 12:15}

And plainly,

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." {Matthew 6:24}

This is why John warns us....

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." {1 John 2:15–17}

He was most likely touching on the Parable of the Rich Man who was building Barns to keep all his stuff. Jesus told us this is a world concept, but one that makes no real sense at all. Remember, Jesus told us this..

"The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" {Luke 12:16-20}

You know that old saying? "You can't take it with ya." So "He who dies with the most toys wins?" Uh, no. When he dies, his toys become someone else's. Jesus tells us that instead of Coveting what is in the World, we should be storing up "a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth."

You see, the World is carnal. We are in the Flesh so that we can operate, live, in this carnal World. However, we are no longer bound to this World. As a Child of God, we have been lifted above the World. We are Strangers in a Strange Land. We are Princes and Princesses of Heaven. We are Children of God.

We no longer have to walk according to, or in, the flesh. We have a better way..

 "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

SO?

"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." {Romans 8:5-8}

We need not Covet. ALL things are God's. We are the Children of God. We are heirs of EVERYTHING. We shall inherent ALL things. And greater things we cannot even comprehend. There is nothing in this World that is worthy to be compared to this fact. Jesus asked us this question. Think about it for a second..

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" {Mark 8:36}

Our time on this Earth is like a Vapor. A blink of an eye. We are here, then gone. But we ARE Eternal Beings. We will live forever. Do you want stuff that will pass away with the Earth? Or do you want Eternal stuff. Do you want the stuff that is here today, and gone tomorrow? Or do you want the stuff that is ALWAYS there waiting for you. Trust me, when your time comes, when you go to stand before God, the last thing on your mind is NOT going to be your big screen TV.

It is true. I have seen it, heard it, first hand. You have heard of it as well. What happens at the end of this life? More times then not, the regrets that most people espouse is that they didn't love more. Have more time with Children or Family. That they did not give back more. That they were not happy. Even if they were Billionaires, many die heart broken.

Why? Because this is when they finally realize, they can't take it with them. They realize, now too late, all that stuff is meaningless. They realize that they missed out on what matters the most. Love. True love. See, the World will move on. Their stuff will belong to someone else. What do they really have, now at the end?

Now that we are in the Holiday Season, now is a great time to take this advice to heart Child of God..

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." {Colossians 3:1-4}

Sounds better than that new Blender, does it not? Better than that new Big Screen TV. Does it not? Better than that must have Gift this year. Does it not?

Oh, speaking of that. Parents? Think about this also. You go through all you do. You save. You work extra hours. You lose sleep. You go out on the busiest Shopping day of the year...You know I did that once. I did. I went out on Black Friday. It was not pretty. People were running over each other, pushing and shoving. I even saw an actual fight over some "Thing." Not pretty. But you go through all this for your Children.

Well? What extreme lengths do you go to, to ensure that your Kids get the GREATEST GIFT Of all? The Gift of Salvation. The Gift of Jesus. The Love of God? The Gift that will never run out of Batteries, break, rust, where out, get stolen, or even be out grown? Think about that honestly..

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." {1 John 5:21}

What about you? Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..