In contrast, today brings the challenges of living in the world, a world full of sin and darkness. Yet as I review the following verses, glimpses of Christ’s glory shine through and encourage me.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14–18)These verses describe Jesus. He was the One who dwelled here with us and walked among us, our God who has made us His people by faith. Faith can see how He was in this world yet He did not yoke Himself with anything that was lawless, darkness, of the devil, or without faith. He set the example of what these verses mean. He ate and drank with sinners, but remained pure and holy.
Jesus knows what it is like to live in a sinful, polluted world. He rubbed shoulders daily with people in the grip of sin, people who had no idea how much sin controlled their lives. He was separate from sin yet highly involved with sinners — and loved them.
These verses make me think of what the Apostle John wrote about being in the world. It is a highly unfriendly place for those desiring to be godly. John warns me . . .
Do not love the world or the things 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 of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)Christians too often think loving the world is about “things” and materialism, but this passage covers far more than that. It shows me how much I need the grace and help of God to be here — yet be separate, like Jesus.
The lust of the flesh is living according to the desires of my physical self. This is about gluttony, adultery, and self-protection. It is also about pampering me and insisting on what makes me feel good. It is wanting comfort, ordering just the right foods, insisting that the thermostat is on the right setting. Jesus never did any of that.
The lust of the eyes is about wanting what I can see. It is materialism, but also greed, hoarding, a controlling power-hungry grasping for whatever I can get for myself. Again, it can be extreme or subtle, going for the whole bakery, or just the biggest piece of cake on the platter.
The pride of life covers so much territory that I can hardly begin to describe it. It is obvious pride that shouts, “Look at me” but it is also that self-focused pride that says, “Poor me, I deserve much better than this.” It is always wanting the best, but also false humility that insists on the least, like the smallest piece of cake. It is that need to win, and the tiny disappointment when others do better than I have. It is the gloating, inward or obvious, that I do when I am right and someone else is wrong.
I could go on forever about pride, but as I type the word “forever” — I’m reminded that no, I will not. One day, as Owen so eloquently describes, I will see Jesus face to face. Pride and greed and selfishness will fall away and love of the world will be a moot point. Because of the brightness of His glory I will finally see the fullness of His glory and, wonder of wonders, I will be transformed into His image.
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