LESSON FOURTEEN – NOT LOVING THE WORLD

1 John 2:15-16 — Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him; because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.

THE WORLD—SET UP BY SATAN TO USURP THE GOD-CREATED MAN

The Greek word for world, kosmos, has more than one meaning.…In John 1:29; 3:16; and Romans 5:12, it denotes the fallen human race corrupted and usurped by Satan as components for his evil world system.… [In 1 John 2:15,] as in John 15:19; 17:14; and James 4:4, it denotes an order, a set form, an orderly arrangement, hence, an ordered system (set up by Satan, the adversary of God), not the earth. God created man to live on the earth for the fulfillment of His purpose. But His enemy Satan, in order to usurp the God-created man, has formed an anti-God world system on this earth by systematizing men with religion, culture, education, industry, commerce, and entertainment through men’s fallen nature in their lusts, pleasures, pursuits, and even in their indulgence in living necessities, such as food, clothing, housing, and transportation. The whole of such a satanic system lies in the evil one (1 John 5:19). Not loving such a world is the ground for overcoming the evil one. Loving it just a little gives the evil one the ground to defeat us and occupy us.

THE THINGS IN THE WORLD

The Lust of the Flesh

[First John 2:16 says, “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust   of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.”] The lust of the flesh, the passionate desire of the body, is mainly related to the body. Because the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil has entered into the human race, our body became fallen and corrupted. Adam and Eve, our first parents, partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As a result, an evil element came into the human race, and now this element is in our physical body. From experience we know that an evil, satanic element dwells in man’s nature.

The Lust of the  Eyes

The lust of the eyes is the passionate desire of the soul through the eyes. When the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil came into the human body, the body became flesh. Because the body encompasses the soul, the soul fell under the influence of the fallen body. As a result, our soul also has been corrupted. Therefore, the soul, our psychological being, has become lustful due to the influence of the fallen body.

The Vainglory  of Life

The vainglory of life…is the…empty pride, boast, confidence, assurance, and display of material things.  (Life-study  of 1 John, pp. 170-174)

ONLY LOVING GOD BEING ABLE TO DELIVER US FROM THE WORLD

Many young ones cannot forsake the world. When they are stirred by others in a meeting, it seems that they will not love the world anymore. At a different time they seem to be totally inseparable from the world. We must possess something better within us in order to drop the heart that loves the world. Once there was an art exhibition. While most of the works could be appreciated from a distance, it was necessary to study one of the paintings from close up in order to understand its meaning. This particular painting, involving a child who was oblivious to all the lovely toys on the floor surrounding him, aptly illustrates a Christian’s experience. The child’s attention was focused on the windowsill, and he had uplifted eyes and outstretched arms. The scene was perplexing from a distance, yet after careful observation, one could see a beautiful dove on the window-sill. The caption explained that in order to have the little dove, the child dropped all the toys on the floor. The moral of the painting was that one only discards the second best for the very best. God never demands that we throw anything away. He only places what is better in front of us. In order to obtain it, we will spontaneously forsake many other things.

A young believer who lived with me for two months once told me that he could not forsake the world. He told an old believer, “You can sacrifice because you have tasted all that this world has to offer. But I cannot.” This young man knew about believing in God but not about loving God. While believing in God can save us from sin, only loving God will deliver us from the world. Brothers and sisters, we must allow God’s love to enter into us. Once the love of God enters, the world simply slips away.

BEING A PASSIONATE LOVER OF THE LORD JESUS

Ephesians 6:24 says, “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.” To whom is grace given here? God gives it to those who love the Lord in incorruptibility. If others would ask you, “Do you believe in the Lord?” the whole world would marvel if you answer,  “I am one who loves the Lord.”

First Peter 1:8 says, “Whom having not seen, you love; into whom though not seeing Him at present, yet believing, you exult with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.” This verse says that we love Him because we believe in Him. What is born out of this love through believing? It is joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.

Finally, brothers and sisters, I wish to repeat what that old believer said to the departing young man: “May you be a passionate lover of the Lord Jesus!” (CWWN, vol. 18, pp. 356-357, 362-363)

References: Life-study of 1 John, msg. 20; CWWN, vol. 18, pp. 355-363; CWWN, vol. 39, “Love Not the World,” chs. 1, 7

JESUS LORD, I’M CAPTURED BY THY BEAUTY

Experience of Christ— Loving Him – 1159

• Jesus Lord, I’m captured by Thy beauty,
  All my heart to Thee I open wide;
  Now set free from all religious duty,
  Only let me in Thyself abide.
  As I’m gazing here upon Thy glory,
  Fill my heart with radiancy divine;
  Saturate me, Lord, I now implore Thee,
  Mingle now Thy Spirit, Lord, with mine.

• Shining One — how clear the sky above me!
  Son of Man, I see Thee on the throne!
  Holy One, the flames of God consume me,
  Till my being glows with Thee alone.
  Lord, when first I saw Thee in Thy splendor,
  All self-love and glory sank in shame;
  Now my heart its love and praises render,
  Tasting all the sweetness of Thy name.

• Precious Lord, my flask of alabaster
  Gladly now I break in love for Thee;
  I anoint Thy head, Beloved Master;
  Lord, behold, I’ve saved the best for Thee.
  Dearest Lord, I waste myself upon Thee;
  Loving Thee, I’m deeply satisfied.
  Love outpoured from hidden depths within me,
  Costly oil, dear Lord, I would provide.

• My Beloved, come on spices’ mountain;
  How I yearn to see Thee face to face.
  Drink, dear Lord, from my heart’s flowing fountain,
  Till I rest fore’er in Thine embrace.
  Not alone, O Lord, do I adore Thee,
  But with all the saints as Thy dear Bride;
  Quickly come, our love is waiting for Thee;
  Jesus Lord, Thou wilt be satisfied.