Warning!! this world can be hazardous to your health
John I 2:15 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.
John I 2:16 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.
John I 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
This is a continuation of last week’s message, primarily because this topic is of great importance, and it is important that we understand the warning that God is giving through John’s inspired writing.
As any good parent would, the Lord gives us a warning in this passage of scripture. Looking at the context of the writing this is a command from God to all of his children. “Loved not the World neither the things that are in the world.” In looking at this passage from the eyes of a child, the first question that comes to mind is “Father, did not you make this world and you are perfect and good, then why such a harsh warning about something you made.”
Now as a child questions like these often would go through our mind, questioning our parents, but rarely we would get the courage to speak what we thought was a logical, fair question that gave us a moment of pride that we were smart enough to even think of it. And sometimes depending on the tone of our voice and the attitude the question was posed, we would get an answer after we regained consciousness and picked ourselves off the floor.
But the answer to this question is Yes, the Lord is good and perfect and yes he did create this world, but and you know there was a but, when man brought SIN into the world, it became corrupt. And sin has made this world and the things in this world corrupt, so our Father warns us, because of the corruption of this world and the sin therein, Warning, this world is hazardous to your health both physically and spiritually. And further more, loving this means that the love of the Father is not in you.
And this warning in not just a new testament warning, for this warning is all throught he holy scriptures. For in the 20th chapter of the book of Exodus, God tells us that He is a jealous God, and He will not play second to any gods in your life. For here lies the same warning in Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
We tend to get so tied up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives that we become idolatrous without even realizing it. All the things we tend to fill our day with and give attention to every detail of our daily planner, got to go here, there, pick up this, drop off that, clean, cook, workout, eat, call her, call him watch this program, from sun up to sun down we are on the go until exhaustion and the Lord is watching all of this from the side line saying “what about ME?” And before you fall into a deep unconscious rem sleep, you say oh!! “Now I lay me down to……”
Now the Lord is telling us that this does not represent love. Because love for the Father is more that just a 15 second semi-conscious rhetorical after thought of a prayer. The father is saying, I don’t need but I demand top billing in your life. For was it not me who woke you up, and started you on your way, For was it not me provided you with that automobile that you are driving on the way to that job that I made a way out of no way for you to have. God is saying to us “danger”, taking Me for granted is hazardous to your health.
It is important now that we explore this scripture and further answer the question of why are the things of this world so hazardous to your health.
The first way that this world can cause us harm is forcing us to be bridled with the yoke of worry. Now in Matthew 6:25 Jesus tells us not to worry, that it is not only a useless activity but it is the sin of not trusting God, and furthermore it will cause emotional and physical harm.
There is a lot of worry in this life. Most people, including Christians worry about their livelihood. There is a question always in their mind:
"How can I get enough money to pay for my food, clothes, transportation and housing? How can I pay for my health insurance, car insurance, etc.?" The worry of this life causes many people to study very hard and to work very hard in order to get a good job and to earn enough money to pay for the daily necessities. The Bible tells us in
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The Lord has promised to take care of you and provide for all your needs. We need to stop worrying about the things we don’t have that we want and thank God for what He has provided. I don’t care how bad you things are going in your life, if you stop measuring yourself by a worldly standard, you would realize that God is doing a great work in your life and blessing you constantly. So stop worrying and praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Another danger in this world that the Christian needs to be cautious of is the deceitfulness of wealth. This world has confuses us into thinking that you are what you have. That you are defined by “what you have.” The bigger, better and more expensive things you have, your stock, your worth and status in this world increases.
And buying in to this confusion of the world will have you working 7 days a week to afford something you really don’t need to impress someone you really don’t even like. The bible warns us in
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
This scripture is saying if you spend all your time working to acquire things so they will define you, then this is where your heart will be “ in these things of the world.” So if this is where your heart is then the Love for the Father is not in you. Working for earthly treasures leaves no time or energy to pursue spiritual growth and a relationship with the Father for the Bible tells us
Matthew 6:24 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.
After providing the basic needs for themselves and their families, most people begin to pursue wealth as the main goal of their lives.
They have the misconception that money can buy everything. Money can buy good food, luxurious cars, beautiful houses, nice furniture and a lot of the conveniences such as cell phone, computer and the list goes on.
Money can buy a lot of enjoyment such as attending concerts, going on expensive vacatgions. The pursuit of money causes many people of the world and many Christians to lose interest in spiritual things.
I find that many Christians have spent too much time to enjoy the things of this world. There are many kinds of entertainment in this world. Some entertainment doesn’t appear to be sinful. There are a lot of t.v. Programs that feature symphony, singing, sports, and exploration of nature, cultural events and historical events.
A Christian can easily spend three or four hours everyday in watching these programs. The problem is that this entertainment takes away so much precious time from a believer that he or she will have little time left to pursue the things of God.
But A lot of the entertainment of this world is sinful. They cause the believers to sin against God and defile their conscience. They dull their spiritual sensitivity and cause them to lose interest in spiritual things.
The pursuit of gain also causes many believers to become selfish. They consider material gain as more important than virtue, mercy, benevolence and service in the church. Many Christians get into bitter fight with their relatives, friends and colleagues for personal gains. The Bible says: "The love of money is the root of all evils."(1Tim. 6:10) Like the people of the world many Christians also love money. They pursue riches in this world more than pursuing God.
Money and material things have become the idols in their hearts. They worship idols more than worshipping God. God is not pleased with them and that is the reason why they cannot grow. I used a phrase in the Wednesday bible study teaching “make money, don’t let money make you.”
Another thing that the apostle John writes as a warning is "the pride of life". The pride of life is the glory, honor and praises that come from the people of the world. Many people work very hard to become a successful scientist, businessman, excellent professor or a superstar in sports.
When they become successful and famous, they receive a lot of praise, admiration and glory from men. The newspaper will publicize their name, pictures and work. If they work in a company, they immediately will get promotion and awards. If they work in a university, they will be promoted to become the deans or chancellors. If they win a gold medal or a silver medal in the Olympic games, they will immediately become world-renowned. All their relatives and friends will respect them and admire them for their hard work and accomplishments.
Now there is nothing wrong with being a success. But the rub is that Many Christians want to become successful in this world and they are willing to pay the price. It is not easy to become successful and outstanding and one has to spend a lot of time and energy to work for it. The pursuit of success causes many Christians to lose interest in the things of God. They don’t read the Bible much and they don’t come to the church as often. As a result, they fall in love with their career and the love for the Father is gone from their hearts.
We must wake up and listen to the warning of the Lord. Loving this world is nothing more than a Fatal Attraction. And why is it a fatal attraction because the world does not love you, the world will use and abuse you and throw you aside when it is finished with you.
Let me tell you that the number one goal of this world is to either keep you from ever loving God or to stop you from loving God. And who is this plan orchestrated by, the price of darkness, Satan himself. He does not love you but he will use you and bring pleasure to himself by getting you to disobey God. And let me tell you that he has been doing this for a long time. Just read sometime the first few chapters of Genesis.
Adhering to the lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh will get you so caught up you will one day look around and wonder how did I get here. We have heard the saying that a little dap’ll do ya, but let me tell you that dealing with the lust of the insatiable flesh of man, a little dab’ll kill ya.
There was a book written some time ago on church life called “The frog in the kettle.” It was an interesting book on how easily it is to drift into trouble. The sub title to the book was “How to boil a frog” No it stated that you don’t just throw a frog into a pot of boiling water because he will jump out before he is boiled.
But what you do is put him in a pot of cold water so he feels perfectly comfortable, and slowly you bring up the temperature. By the time it gets a little warmer he’s just swimming around like he is in a frog Jacuzzi. But finally when it’s boiling it is too late, he is too week from his body temperature elevates and before he realizes it he’s done.
Now this simple story give us a real truth into how testing the waters gets us into a pot that we really shouldn’t be in, and our adversary the devil will confuse us into thinking that the water is fine. You think every thing is going fine, you are having the time of your life and before you know it, it’s boiling, you are caught up and the first thing that comes to mind is “How did I get here, I did not see this coming, what happened.”
What I have heard time and time again is: “you know it started with just one drink, I didn’t think it would hurt me then it just got good to me,
You know it started with just one hit of the joint, one line of cocaine, one cigarette, all I did was wink at her, all I did was told him he was sexy, I just went to the club to relax, we only sleep together once,
The flesh is insatiable, it can’t be pleased, it will always want more, bigger, better, faster, stronger.
In Living a life led by the flesh, each day the flesh will tell you, “yesterday was good but we have to top yesterday, I don’t care if you don’t know how, you find a way to top yesterday.” And here we find ourselves on a constant mission to push the envelope daily to please the corrupt flesh that will ultimately lead to our destruction physically and spiritually. Warning this world can be hazardous to your health.
But there is good news,
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
In studying the life of Jesus, we find that Jesus always overcame the world. Immediately after Jesus was baptized, the devil led Him to the wilderness and tempted Him to sin. First, he tempted Jesus with the physical needs. After fasting for forty days, Jesus was hungry. The devil said to Him: "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." (Matt. 4:3) The devil wanted Jesus to act outside of God’s will. He wanted Jesus to act in His own will to satisfy His physical needs. Jesus answered:
Matthew 4:4 It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple and said to Him: "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "’He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’" (Vs 6-7) Here the devil tempted Jesus with pride. He wanted Jesus to do something spectaculous to make Himself famous. Jesus answered him,
Matthew 4:7 It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." (Vs. 8-9) Here, the devil tempted Jesus with the riches and glory of this world. The condition for possessing the riches of this world is to bow down to Satan.
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ’Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’" (V. 10) Jesus resisted and overcame all the temptation of the devil. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended Jesus (v. 11)
When Jesus was about to go to the cross, He said to the disciples:
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
At the cross God publicly judged sin. When God judged sin, it means that this sinful world was judged. The devil and all his emissaries were also judged. In God’s legal court, the fate of Satan and this sinful world were already sealed. Christ in His resurrection has demonstrated that He has overcome the world and Satan.
So how do we overcome the world today? We overcome the world by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.
John I 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.)
When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, Jesus delivered us from the control of Satan. He gave to us His eternal life. He has given to us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is mighty in power and resources. He help’s us to overcome the world.
But we need to keep trusting in Jesus Christ. By trusting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Shepherd we can be delivered from the worry of this life. For Psalms 23 says The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness doesn’t mean that we should become lazy. It means that we put the pursuing of God’s kingdom and righteousness first. To meet our physical needs we look to God to lead us when and where to work.
God leads us to be diligent to fulfill all the responsibilities in life.
God will provide for our physical needs in His time and in His way.
His presence will be always with us.
When we put God first instead of putting material things first, we have overcome the world.
So if it’s victory you seek, find it in Jesus
you want to kick that habit, you can do it through Jesus
If that addiction is killing you, renew your life through Jesus
Can’t find a job, work for Jesus
Marriage falling apart, Jesus can fix it
Storms raging out of control in your life, Jesus will say peace be still
The yoke of worry crippling you spirit, Jesus said take no thought
Realized how sinful you life really is, Jesus said Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Are you being persecuted in the name of Jesus: then Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
There is victory in the name of Jesus
there is peace in the name of Jesus
Mountains are moved in the name of Jesus
Bodies are healed in the name of Jesus
Live are made whole in the name of Jesus
Children are saved from destruction in the name of Jesus
Families are saved in the name of Jesus
Lives are saved in the name of Jesus
Souls are saved in the name of Jesus
The gift of salvation is given in the name of Jesus
Lusts of the flesh are stopped in the name of Jesus
The sin of worry is removed in the name of Jesus
Success is given in the name of Jesus
Promotion if given in the name of Jesus
There is happiness in the name of Jesus
There is joy in the name of Jesus
Do you know Jesus, Do you love Jesus
there is power in the name of Jesus
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
We serve an awesome God,
We serve an all knowing God,
We serve an omnipotent God
We serve and all powerful God.
My God is worthy of Honor
My God is worth of praise
My God is worthy of Glory, Praise the Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah
Let me tell you what serving an all powerful God means, it means that no matter what you are faced with, going through no matter how big a problem you are dealing with in your life, all powerful means he can fix it.
Do you believe that He can fix it
Do you know that He can fix it
Has he fixed it in you life
Then say thank you Lord, thank you Lord, thank you Lord.
If you have not trusted Him to fix it.
But you must give it to Him and trust Him, have faith that He will provide for you.
Cedric A. Portis
cedque8@cs.com
