VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION - 2
The World:
How do you and I overcome the world? The key word is faith. First John
5:4 says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this
is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” We are not
told to fight the world, we are told to have faith in God instead.
What does faith do? Faith makes God real to you. Let’s return to First John: “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” (1 John 2:15).
When we say that someone is “wordly,” we are saying that this person loves the world and the things in this world more than God. The love of the Father is not in them.
Let me tell you three reasons that sin is so prevalent and why overcoming temptation has become so trivial. First, most consequences lie in the future. There’s a disconnect between the present and future. If we experienced immediate consequences instead of future consequences for sin, we’d live radically different lives.
Second, most consequences are uncertain. A teenager might get pregnant. A smoker might get cancer. A sugar-consumer might develop a diabetic condition. If you knew beyond a doubt that using product X caused cancer, you would never use product X again. Most of us will take the risk or gamble of sin if there is a possibility that there won’t be a consequence.
Third, most consequences seem more positive than negative. Sin excites, it thrills, and it stimulates. Sin provides an instant gratification that feels good. Why stop something that feels good? Stopping feels bad, boring, and negative.
"May we come to terms with the true consequence of sin"
Pray with me;
Lord open my eyes to the deceptions of sin and its hidden consequences in Jesus name!
May your day be profitably fruitful in Jesus name!
What does faith do? Faith makes God real to you. Let’s return to First John: “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” (1 John 2:15).
When we say that someone is “wordly,” we are saying that this person loves the world and the things in this world more than God. The love of the Father is not in them.
Let me tell you three reasons that sin is so prevalent and why overcoming temptation has become so trivial. First, most consequences lie in the future. There’s a disconnect between the present and future. If we experienced immediate consequences instead of future consequences for sin, we’d live radically different lives.
Second, most consequences are uncertain. A teenager might get pregnant. A smoker might get cancer. A sugar-consumer might develop a diabetic condition. If you knew beyond a doubt that using product X caused cancer, you would never use product X again. Most of us will take the risk or gamble of sin if there is a possibility that there won’t be a consequence.
Third, most consequences seem more positive than negative. Sin excites, it thrills, and it stimulates. Sin provides an instant gratification that feels good. Why stop something that feels good? Stopping feels bad, boring, and negative.
"May we come to terms with the true consequence of sin"
Pray with me;
Lord open my eyes to the deceptions of sin and its hidden consequences in Jesus name!
May your day be profitably fruitful in Jesus name!
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