Stop the World! I Really Want to Get Off!!

1 John 2:1-17 In these last days before the Lord returns, it seems the world is increasing in evil. The Bible tells us this will happen. Timothy tells us that in the last days seducing spirits will be everywhere. We have this hopeful word in God’s Word that says where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. Sometimes my husband and I sit at our peaceful dinner table and remark to one another, “Things are really getting bad out there.” One only has to watch the news to see the corruption in our world and the steady descent into more darkness. Sometimes after watching the news I want to say, “Stop the world! I want to get off!!” Today’s reading gives us the reason the world is such a mess. We cannot blame it on God or even the devil. We only have to look at ourselves to find the answer to our predicament. Listen to what John says: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (vv. 15-17, KJV).

The world is waxing worse simply because more people are giving into their own lusts—the lust of the flesh (seeking to fulfill their five senses in an overindulgent way—drugs, alcohol, overeating, etc.); the lust of the eyes (greedy longings in the mind such as covetousness, greed, fantasies, pornography, etc.); and the pride of life (trusting in ourselves more than we trust in God). There is no question that our own lusts are the problem. The Bible says that in the last days men will be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (the lust of the flesh) and lovers of self more than lovers of God (the lust of the eyes and the pride of life).

The good news is that the world will pass away and all of its lusts with it. There will be a day when the Lord Himself will stop the world, and we will be able to get off. Let’s pray earnestly that all of our loved ones will be in a position to get off when things come to an end here on earth. The position we all need to be in when the Lord returns and stops the world as we know it today is on our knees humbly bowing and acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord of all even this corrupt world, and most of all, He is Lord of our lives.

Lord, I confess my own selfish lusts. So often I do put my own pleasure ahead of spending time with You. Many times I place more trust in myself and my own abilities rather than depending upon You and Your supernatural ability (Your grace). Forgive me for the prideful times in my life when I chose to put self on the throne rather than You. Help me to humble myself daily.

READ: Daniel 8:1-27; 1 John 2:1-17; Psalm 120:1-7; Proverbs 28:25-26