Unmasking Worldliness - Bible Witness

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Unmasking WorldlinessThe absolute nature of this statement by Johnis striking and compels careful and seriousreflection. The stakes are high. Because theFather’s kingdom is at war with the kingdomof this world, the two will never coexistpeacefully. When love for the world increases,love for God dwindles. No human heart canhold these two opposing loves together.To pledge allegiance to one side is to declareopposition to the other. Worldliness willput you together with all the God-haters ofthe world. James 4:4 – “Ye adulterers andadulteresses, know ye not that the friendshipof the world is enmity with God? whosoevertherefore will be a friend of the world is theenemy of God.”Because of worldliness, many Christiansare vexed and disturbed by the demands ofa godly and service-oriented Christian life.The subtle existence of worldliness withinthe hearts of Christians keeps them awayfrom God and His kingdom. A look at mostChristians today tells us that they have muchof earth, and little of heaven.Worldly Christians are not large-hearted oropen-handed when it comes to the serviceof God; they are not willing to spend and bespent. They are not like those whose eyesare ever set on the incorruptible inheritancewhich God has prepared for them. Theyhave low spiritual vigour and are apathetictowards the things of God. They want to beengaged as little as possible in the thingsof God, and indulge more in their worldlycomforts. They grudge and murmur about thelabour, fatigue, expense and trouble that theyhave to bear in the service of God’s kingdom.They rather cherish the company of worldlymen than that of Christians. They choose tostay away from fellowships, prayer meetingsand other Christian activities. They preferthe respite and enjoyment that the housesof this world offer. They spend more of theirtime and money in the activities of the world,whether it be shopping, clubbing, watchingTV or other entertainment. When the pursuitof the material world increases in their hearts,their delight in the things of God fades away.This danger is further emphasised by John inverse 16 when he wrote: “For all that is in theworld, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of theeyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,but is of the world.” All that constitutesworldliness, the lust of the flesh, the lustof the eyes and the pride of life are not ofthe Father.Once the world takes over the heart of aChristian, he will soon lose his enjoymentof the Father’s love and his desire to dothe Father’s will. The Bible will becomeboring and prayer a difficult chore. EvenChristian fellowship may seem empty anddisappointing. It is not that there is somethingwrong with those Christian activities, but thatthe Christian’s heart has become worldly.Worldliness embraces the temporal atthe expense of the eternalSecondly, John warned: “And the worldpasseth away, and the lust thereof: but he thatdoeth the will of God abideth for ever” (v. 17).The world and its lust are heading towardseverlasting destruction, while the obedientChristian is going to live eternally. The worldand the genuine Christian do not share thesame destiny.The world is passing away! It is rushing intoeternal hell. For anyone to set his heart on theperishing world is to inherit heartache andmisery at the end.Would you buy stock in a company that issure to go bankrupt? Would you like to spenda day to relax on a sinking ship? Would you8 Bible Witness
Unmasking Worldlinesslike to dance a night away in a nightclub thatis on fire?No reasonable person would lay up treasurewhere moth and rust destroy and thievesbreak in and steal, would they? The apostlePaul said in 1 Corinthians 7:31, “the fashionof this world passeth away.” The worldwith all its fashion and lust is headingtowards eternal peril. The apostle Petersays in 2 Peter 3:7, 10, “But the heavensand the earth, which are now, by the sameword are kept in store, reserved unto fireagainst the day of judgment and perditionof ungodly men... But the day of the Lordwill come as a thief in the night; in thewhich the heavens shall pass away with agreat noise, and the elements shall meltwith fervent heat, the earth also and theworks that are therein shall be burned up.”So if you love the glories and the pageantry ofthis world, you will pass away together withthem. You will not only lose your treasure butalso your soul. If you love the world, it willpass away, taking you with it.Christians, be cautioned: worldlinessdistracts us from taking delight in thingsthat abideth for ever, even doing God’s will.So if you are stuck in some worldly living, beforewarned of your quick destruction.Are you surprised that this world and itsglories are facing a perilous end? Well, it isgoing to be worse and worse. Sin isdestroying this world. But there is a blessedhope – “he that doeth the will of God abidethfor ever” (v. 17). What is the will of God thatyou should obey so as to live for ever? Jesusgives the answer to this question. He says,“And this is the will of him that sent me, thatevery one which seeth the Son, and believethon him, may have everlasting life: and I willraise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). Ifyour heart would love the Lord Jesus andfollow His Word, instead of loving andfollowing the world, you will abide forever.Do not flirt with the world, it will seduce youinto destruction, but follow the will of God inChrist Jesus and you will have eternal life.Gethsemane Bible InstituteCebu, The Philippines13 First St., Happy Valley, Cebu City,The Philippines 6000Tel: (+63) (032) 254-1544Email: gbpcmissions@yahoo.comAlem Gena, EthiopiaPO Box 46519, Addis Ababa,EthiopiaTel: 0911-385223 / 0911-823720Email: gethsemane_eth@yahoo.comPlease pray for and support the work of GBI in preparing preachers of the Word.Cheques may be made payable to Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church.Please indicate “GBI” or “Gethsemane Bible Institute” on the back ofthe cheque.A ministry of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian ChurchGETHSEMANE BIBLE INSTITUTE“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the samecommit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” – 2 Timothy 2:22 Timothy 2:2GBI
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Unmasking Worldliness - Bible Witness

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