25th May 2024

25th May 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (1 John 2v15-17)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If you can recall our walk through Ecclesiastes you might remember Solomon reminding us to eat our dinner and drink our wine with glad and thankful hearts. Indeed, on occasion Solomon helped us understand that there is much in this world which is good. There have been moments in my life when the beauty of creation has left me speechless and other times that I’ve had a lovely sense of joy and contentment. Life can be and often is sweet.


Nevertheless, we would do well to remember that the world in which we live is passing away and with it will go all of the rottenness that we see mixed with the good (v17). What is rotten in this world? John lists three things - the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and the pride of life (v16). These things are not from God but find their origin in this sinful world (v16b).


The Apostle here paints a picture of what marks much of the human experience. We are so often seduced by the lusts of our flesh - we want what we want when we want it. We withhold nothing from ourselves that our eye sees and we can become so conceited that we see ourselves as the “main character” in life’s drama. Don’t believe me? Just watch the rage in airports all across the world over the summer months. We are outraged when our flight is delayed because many of us have the “pride of life” believing ourselves to be the most important, most vital and most special person in the universe.


The Christian is not immune from this sickness and so we must heed John’s warning. If we have fallen in love with this world and all that goes on in it, then we have no right to claim that we have experienced the love of God (v15). The person who claims to walk with Christ while simultaneously delighting in all the world has to offer is living a lie.


Back in the day many lived lives that were defined as “good living” or in other words they didn’t drink, smoke or go to the cinema. I’m certain this was a well meaning defence against worldliness but it was misguided. We cannot stop our hearts drifting into worldliness by keeping a list of three or four do’s and don’ts. Our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17v9) and so we require Christ to complete major heart surgery on each of His children.


He has started this work and will certainly complete it (Philippians 1v6) but in the meantime we could do with examining our attitudes and desires in light of the Gospel. If the only thing that separates you from your non-Christian neighbour is that you go to church and he doesn’t, then perhaps you need to wrestle with these verses. Worldliness impacts our words, thoughts, hearts, attitudes, money, time and every inch of our lives. Brothers and sisters, you and I are not immune and so let me finish by reminding you of three little words - “Christ is all.” (Colossians 3v11)


Do you believe these words? Do they influence how you spend your time? Do they inform your approach when someone cuts in front of you at the airport? Do they speak to you when your eyes rest on that person who isn’t your wife or husband? Brothers and sisters, do not love the world or the things in it. Christ is all so follow Him and you’ll discover that the one who does God’s will abides forever (v17b).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q48 What are we specially taught by these words, before me,” in the first commandment? These words, before me,” in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.
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