1 John 2:15-17 New International Version
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
We are called not to love the world. The word love is the Greek word agapaō and it means to love. Involves a deep level of affection and intimacy.[1] Our affection is for the Lord alone. Those who love the world honor what the world values. Everything we see in the world is built on the lies and deceptions of the enemy. Everything our culture exalts and glorifies stands against God and His kingdom. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father cannot be in them. The love of the Father can only be within us if we choose to live for Jesus Christ daily. We are called to be set apart and holy for the Lord. It is to Him alone that we give our allegiance.
John discusses the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The lust of the flesh refers to anything that arises from our sinful nature desires. The word lust means desire, passion. Often refers to a deep desire or lust.[2] They are desires that our sinful nature craves. However, when we allow them in, we also allow the enemy in. Pursuing the lust of the flesh invites destruction.
The lust of the eyes refers to the things we desire when we see them. We are told that when the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was presented to Eve, it was pleasing to her eyes. Anything that tempts us will be appealing to the eyes, but we must crucify our sinful nature daily. When things come across our eye gate that try to pull us away from God, we must draw near to the Lord. We must find our strength in Him. As we abide in Him and walk with Him, He will continually transform us.
The pride of life is what we build our lives upon that is not Christ and His kingdom. This pride may manifest in our positions at work or the titles we hold. It can bring us recognition and feed our sinful nature. However, in Christ, we are called to humble ourselves before the Lord and serve Him alone. In Jesus Christ, He is our purpose and our identity. Our purpose is not found in this world, and building our lives on the pride of life leads toward destruction and robs us of our God-given purpose.
These three that John has mentioned come not from the Father. They come from the enemy of our soul. Satan is the god of this age who has blinded the mind and hearts of those in this world. Those who pursue the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life merely demonstrate that they do not belong to Jesus Christ. We are called to live a crucified life. Jesus said that if anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself and take up his cross. The sinful nature must be put to death each day.
The world and its desires are passing away. This world will eventually come to an end. One day, God will create a new heaven and a new earth. Every day, as followers of Jesus, we anticipate the return of Jesus Christ. Our citizenship is not in this world; it is in heaven. But the one who does the will of God will live forever. The person who strives to fulfill God's will simply demonstrates that their heart and mind are surrendered to God.
Jesus calls us to fully surrender to Him. In these few verses, John contrasts the person who lives for the world with the person who lives for God. The person who lives for the world chases after the world and its desires. But the person who loves Jesus lives for Him. On a daily basis, they choose to crucify their sinful nature by pursuing Jesus Christ. To follow Jesus Christ is to pursue Him daily and abide in Him.
Prayer
Father help me to live for you. Help me to die daily to the desires of this world. Help me to rely on your grace at all times. Remove from my life anything that would grieve your heart. Father refine and prune me according to your will. May I grow to greater maturity and intimacy in you. Father thank you for your love. Thank you for the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Thank you for how much you truly love me. In the name of Jesus, Amen!
[1] Justin Langford, “Friendship,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
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