THE TEST OF YOUR LOVE

1 John 2:15-17

¹⁵ 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.

The Apostle John says in I John 2:16 that there are three things that will let you know if the love of the Father is in you.   He summarizes them as follows:

1.    The lust of the flesh, which is according to the Amplified Bible’s definition, the craving for sensual gratification.

2.    The lust of the eyes, which is according to the Amplified Bible’s definition, the greedy longings of the mind. 

3.    The pride of life, which is according to the Amplified Bible’s definition, the assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things.  

Ø These three things, in the heart of a believer, represent what he calls the love of the world.  The absence of which, represent the love of the Father. 

In other words, the author is saying that it is impossible for someone to both have love for the world and its things, as well as love for the Father.   The two things cannot co-exist.  They are contrary one to the other.   They are like the relationship between the flesh and the Spirit—two parallel roads that will never join.   They are like the relationship between light and darkness, there is no fellowship between them.  They are opposites that will never attract.

Anyone who thinks he can joggle these two lifestyles successfully is deceiving himself, for he is double-minded and will receive nothing from the Lord.  He is the chaff that the wind drives wherever it wants.  He is not the tree planted by the rivers of water that will bring forth fruit in his season; but is like the wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the winds.   Therefore, it will be impossible for such a person to inherit his destiny of eternity (eternal life)!  

Grace and peace be multiplied to you and Happy New Year!

By Evangelist Kathy-Ann Michael