WORLD

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 – 1 John 2:16

The Believer’s three main foes are: the devil, the WORLD, and the flesh. The Lord Jesus said, “… In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have OVERCOME the world” (Jh.16:33). What is the world? On one hand is that world that is God’s enemy: “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (Jam.4:4b). This is the highly organised evil system that Satan rules over (2Cor.4:4). On the other hand is the “world of people” – the one that God loves: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jh.3:16). For us to enforce, sustain and enjoy the Victory that Christ has obtained for us, we also must “overcome the world” (Jh.16:33)!

1 John 2:16 unveils what constitutes that “world” that we must overcome: “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.” It is no coincidence that these three elements recur as the three basic kinds of temptations that humanity has been facing from Eden till date. Recognising these three categories of temptations makes us to be better equipped for Victory. To be tempted is not wrong; to yield to temptation is sin. You need not feel guilty being tempted. Eve did not sin until she yielded.  Jesus, our Lord “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb.4:15b). He experienced it all for us. The devil literally “ended every temptation” in his encounter with Jesus (Lk.4:13) – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

First, the tempter taunted Jesus, “...If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Mt.4:3a). This is the lust of the flesh. In other words, “Don’t wait for God the Father to provide; act independently of Him in meeting your hunger-need! Fulfil your desire on your terms.” Hunger is a natural appetite; and bread is a necessity. But, sometimes you can ask the right thing at the wrong time. For example, sex is a good gift from God, but meant only for marriage. The Lord Jesus could feed others miraculously, but not just as He wished. He refused to be driven by the tempter!

Next, Satan suggested to Jesus, “…If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down…” (Mt.4:6a). This is the pride of life. In other words, “Dive off the high temple and come swooping down like Superman.” He wanted to get Jesus to go on an “ego trip.” But Jesus refused such cheap heroics to get attention. He would wait for the glory that the Father would give rather than seek to drum up his own. Would you wait for God-given glory or seek to manufacture yours?

The devil tried to entice Jesus with the lust of the eyes: “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me” (Mt.4:9). What the devil meant was: “I’ll make you a world power without the cross and suffering. Behold the world and all its glory, wealth, art, beauty, entertainment, fashion, pleasures, philosophy, popularity, positions, and power. Praise God! Jesus was not after earthly kingdoms. He was after the Kingdom. He could never have attained His ultimate crown without the cross. He kept His eyes on His desired future. He knew that the temporal is no wise substitute for the eternal.

Satan comes with the fiercest temptations in these three areas of weakness: addictive cravings of the flesh; excessive longings of the eyes; and prideful appetites for power, position, popularity, which lead to inordinate ambition, cheating, slander, and malice. Praise God, our Lord has overcome the world. So, we can “be of good cheer” and enjoy the Victory!