The “World” Series
Devotions for Growing Christians
The “World” Series
Acts 17:24 - God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth, and does not live in temples made by men.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
1 John 2:15-16 - Do not love the world, 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 of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the father, but of the world."
In this devotion we’re looking at a “world series” - three Scriptures having to do with the “world.” What is the “world”? Why does the Bible come down so hard on "worldly" Christians? How can the Bible say God made the world (Acts 17:24) and loves the world (John 3:16) on the one hand, and then turn around and tell us not to love the world (1 John 2:15)? Is this a contradiction in the Bible? No, but it does need some explanation.
The Bible uses the word "world" in three different ways.
1. it can mean the material universe or earth that God created. This is how the word is used in Act 17:24.
2. it can mean the world of mankind, as in John 3:16. God loves the whole human race.
3. it can mean the affairs and things of this earth. This is how the word is used in 1 John 2:15-16. This is the primary meaning of the word "world" throughout the New Testament.
When the Bible mentions the world in this third way, it’s speaking of an intangible entity that is operating behind the scenes of the visible affairs and things of this earth. 1 Corinthians 2:12 refers to the "spirit of the world," and 1 Corinthians 3:19 speaks of the "wisdom of the world." Furthermore, three Scriptures in John tell us that Satan is working behind the scenes, and he is the "prince of this world." (See John 12:31, John 14:30, John 16:11.) And 1 John 5:19 says that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. Even though Satan was conquered at the cross, he is still operating in this world until the judgment day.
The world that Christians are not to love is the Satanic world system. We can’t escape the world by living in a Christian commune, or by isolation as a Christian hermit. The world is not a list of no-no's that can be written down, or a set of rules to be kept as a measure of our holiness versus worldliness.
No, the world is a system that extends itself into all areas of living. As an illustration, think of organized crime. It’s a system that seeks to extend its infiltrating fingers into all areas of business in any legal or illegal way available. Similarly, the world system extends its tentacles into all areas of human activity - education, jobs, sports, even religious activities. Whether we realize it or not, we’re confronted with the world system through philosophy, art, music, technology, the mass media, etc. The world system penetrates every area of our entire culture.
The way to recognize the world system is by its three principles of operation: selfish pleasure, selfish gain, and vanity (1 John 2:16). Recognize any of these principles in your own life, or in your areas of activity? That’s the world system at work.
Satan has designed this present evil world system to appeal to our fallen sinful natures - and he is very successful! Satan's normal way of tripping up the growing Christian is not to send out a bunch of demons to attack. He doesn’t need to! His world system is enough to arouse ungodly desires within us, that lead us into sin. (See James 1:13-16.)
Our involvement with the world is not just confined to what we might consider "major areas" - like greedy materialism or illicit sex. The world system reaches into the more subtle area of our lives. Why do I try to get the best room or bed at the weekend retreat? Why do I subconsciously manipulate for the more prominent positions at church? What is my real reason for talking a lot at Bible studies and small group sessions?
How, then, are we to "keep ourselves unstained from the world" (James 1:27)? The simple answer from Scripture is: more faith and more love.
More Faith
1 John 5:4-5 states that it is our faith that overcomes the world. The more we walk by faith the less the world system will appeal to us. Materialism, for example, will not be attractive to the Christian who - by faith - recognizes that the present possessions on earth are garbage compared to eternal inheritance that awaits us as fellow-heirs with Christ.
More Love
It goes without saying that the more we are in love with the Lord Jesus, the less the world and its attractions will arouse responsive chords within us. When a husband and wife are deeply in love, adultery is unthinkable. (It is significant that God looks on friendship with the world as spiritual adultery. See James 4:1-4.)
When we are deeply in love with our Lord, the world system loses its attraction for us, and it loses its hold on us. We’re not interested in becoming entangled with this world's affairs (2 Timothy 2:4). No longer are we conformed to this world's way of thinking (Romans 12:2). Rather, our lives are completely bound up with the One we love. We "hang on His every Word.” We obey out of love - not law!
Victory over the world is not easy. In fact, Jesus said that we can expect hard times. (See John 16:33.) And in that same Scripture Jesus says that we can take heart, because He has overcome the world! As we follow our Lord Jesus in more faith and more love, we can be sure that we’ll be kept from Satan and his world system. (See John 17:15-16.)
It’s only a matter of time before the present evil world will be no more. It’s on its way out! "The world is passing away, and its strong desires; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17).
What a promise!
- Dave Reid