Let’s consider John’s words found in I John 2:15-17. “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 is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” What does John mean here about the world? Does he mean the people? No, for God loves the world of people, Jn.3:16. Does he mean the planet itself? No, for the world (planet) is very good, Gen.1:31. The world we are not love, is the realm of iniquity, the domain of darkness, which Satan is king of, John 12:31, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” The “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” is of this world; these are the enticements that the devil uses to draw into his realm. They can be very alluring, charming, desirable if we do not look at it from a divine perspective. For the devil’s allurements are deceptive in nature, Eph.4:22, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” We must see that his bait has a hook under it, and it is deadly! Let is also see the great value in doing the will of God, for in doing this, we shall abide forever.
— Dan McKibben
