I’m reading and studying the Gospel according to Luke this month but for some unknown reason, this passage has been the one I am meditating on since last Saturday:
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 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. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17
“Everything” that is in the world will be categorized into three classes:
1. The lust of the flesh,
2. The lust of the eyes, and
3. The pride of life (or, the Lust of the heart – “I am better” or “I have more”)
When we fall in love with any of these lusts, we reject God since we can only love one, God or the world. We cannot love both at the same time.
This is the one truth we need to keep reminding our soul because we all have that natural pull to the world, to this material, passing world.
“Lust” is a strong desire to make ours that which does belong to somebody else. . . that is why entertainment industries are working day and night, to make us lust after everything they present.
Do you know why?
Well, once lust takes root in our hearts, we do anything and everything to make that we lusted after ours.
How dangerous!
The medicine or the antidote for lust is called loving God. When we love God, we do anything and everything to please Him. That is what love is.
That is why love is the direct opposite of lust; and the love of God is the only weapon that can destroy lust. ///