Love Not The World!

A call to separation

Photo by Andrew Johnson on Unsplash

 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.

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.

17 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

Why would anyone not love the world?
A mother looks on as her child’s umbilical cord is removed. “The cord had connected mother and child”? It has to be disposed of and never be brought back. It will be an uncomfortable sight, seeing a grown child carrying their umbilical cord wrapped around them, and that’s if the child even survives long. The umbilical cord has served its purpose and was vital to the baby’s survival in the womb, but no more when the baby is born. Its role has ended. For this reason, it has to be cut off. Well, the baby could be moved with compassion and say “this thing was so useful to me, why take it away …?” The baby may cry loud and whine but the doctor will still have to separate it from the umbilical cord. If for any reason the umbilical cord is left to stay on the child it’ll be dead weight and will cause more harm than good. Doing this is for the good and the survival of the child.

Does it still make sense?
We live in a more rational generation. So it seems. But the question is, do we? It’s a world where everyone seeks ‘freedom’ equality and free will. It’s all good without the madness drifting away many into a depredating course. Looking at human history, our struggle against slavery, apathy, racism, war and injustice points to the nature of humans to want to enjoy divine provisions. However, the world itself has failed. Therefore, we should be the light and profer solution to the failing human systems. If there is anything we see today, it’s the selfish ambitions of people. You only get something because more is demanded from you.
John was writing to Christians in the power of the Spirit. He commanded them to “Love not the world”. With all the world means to you today, does it make sense not to love the world?

A world of silver and gold
And for some, there are diamonds and more. What is your net worth as they say? Is your barn full and you have more than enough? Are you still attached to your umbilical cord and your heart quietly yearns for the idols of the earth? Then it’s not hard to see you ‘love not the world’. Some ridiculed them who declared “Silver and gold have I none”. They laugh at them in their cycles and despise them like lepers. The princes of the earth can’t imagine one absconding from the world. They can’t stand it. For them, it’s a world full of glories, beauty, fame, riches and pleasure. Why would anyone not want to love it? Their pride is the world and all in it.

To they that are called

The one who is born of Christ must have their umbilical removed.

It’s our Lord’s and saviour’s command to “love not the world”. Perhaps we have so much on earth: friends, pursuits, gold, aspirations and nothing of us is left for our Lord. The great physician takes no pity on such, he must have your umbilical cord removed. He has commanded we cast not our affections on the world and all in it. We can’t seek this life’s worth in parallel or above our heavenly calling. Our work in the world is to save the lost and dying. We have no obligations to look, live or pattern ourselves like them. “Come out from among them … and be ye separate” is the solemn command. The world may glitter with gold and diamonds but it has nothing to offer than the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Two keywords characterise the man on the throne of this world, lust and pride. You’re in the world but you’re not of the world dearly beloved. Don’t be drifted by the rat race of the sick and dying inhabitants of the world. All of the blotted pursuits of man are passing away with this sinking world.