Love's Focus!

Love's Focus!

Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. 1 JOHN 2:15‭-‬16 AMP

It starts with an admonition; an advice on priorities. 'Do not love the world'. As simple as those words are, they lie at the heart of all God desires for me. First, love is so total and absolute that it leaves room for nothing else. Once I have focused on an object or subject and given it my love, it leaves no room for anything else. That's why today's extract also says that once you love the world, the love of the Father cannot also be in your heart. You cannot play both sides: you cannot love God and also love the world equally. Both are parallel lines that can NEVER meet.

What does the world represent? It is different from the earth, which is the physical space created by God for us to fill, inhabit and replenish. The spiritual side to our physical existence is referred to as the world, fully represented by man's fallen nature of sin. The world has a system designed to rule over all who submit to it, and you really cannot overcome it by your own power. How do you know if you are subject to the world's system: by your present love life. What are those things that hold your heart so tight that it is difficult to let go? What are those things that have become so important that they take the place of God in your heart?

The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life: the summary of the world's system. These are the things the world promotes, and it is all those in the world pursue. These were the basis of man's fall in the Garden of Eden, and they are still man's greatest distractions today. Unfortunately, there is no proof that things gotten from these can satisfy. Solomon pursued all the world could offer, yet came to the conclusion that: 'All is vanity'. As long as there is anything else holding my heart, I cannot claim to love God with all my heart.

And God will not settle for anything less than my all. He will not share my affection or devotion, so I need to make up my mind on my priorities and pursuits. What's it going to be: love for God or love of the world? Both have eternal consequences. His time of favour is here.