“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not of the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
A good number of us, myself included, are oftentimes sidetracked by the marvels that are paraded before our very eyes. While we are cognizant of the times we live in, the pull of the good life so stated in material terms is, at best, close to the irresistible. We undoubtedly have a front-row seat to the spectacle of events which the prophets and apostles cherished, but the lure of worldly wonders which might have been sci-fi fantasies in our youth seduces us away from the truth.
Before what is keeping our movements curtailed, our minds could have drifted a considerable distance from where the focus ought to be. Some could openly profess their preoccupation with earthly preferences. A recent big move up the corporate ladder and the tantalizing perks that are in tow. Still got a fair number of gravy-train servings until possible grandparenthood. The Rapture can be on hold for just a little while longer! Same goes for the kids; they want to get married and experience the richness of a matrimonial home complete with the babies. Maybe then the trumpet could sound once that full circle is finally attained!
What full circle, pardon me? What is it based on, His will or fleshly desires? Is it the Heavenly Father’s love versus the love of the planet and the trimmings that go with it?
I can see without any questions asked why things had to pan out like what is part and parcel of reality. That celebrated appointment with a fat paycheck could still be there minus the company over lunch at a Michelin-starred eatery and the deletion of other high-life events. Everything online, plus keep your distance, minimal contact with the kids who are engaged in strife nobody prepared them for. That recently purchased twelve-cylinder BMW is idle, and despite the opulence of the dream house, being stuck in one place for an indefinite timeframe and is cause for worry if not fury. As the pondering goes on past a fortnight, then the question does surface, what in the world has happened?
The world which we knew last Christmas is in a terminal stage of rapid decline ahead of an eventual demise. Nothing will be like what we loved and cherished. This is food for thought as our ragged minds contemplate the immediate future. Back to basics which we learned from the Living Word. Maybe we want to get off the sinking ship of this fallen planet.
I strongly sense that this pandemic is an outpouring of His grace and mercy. As many now begin to loosen their grip on this fast-failing world, then the only prudent recourse in these times is to place all hope in eternity with a lot better things to come. An eternity without the things that are the cause of suffering and pain.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Be of good cheer, and Maranatha.
Edwin