Foolish Fascinations

“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 (KJV)

We may think that the ever-present debilitating snare of spiritually “falling” is something that lies at distance far away from us; when actually, it is a crippling hazard that ever lurks presently around us, given the fact Scripture reminds the Christ follower that we reside in a spiritual sphere that is formidably and relentless hostile to us.

Although too commonly we are not living attentively aware of this ever present and pervasive danger, 1 John 2:16 yet continually alerts us of its looming presence: ”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 consequently, when we allow ourselves to become seduced and distracted by the world’s diverting influences for prolonged periods of time; or to become spiritually blinded by colluding and unifying with their endeavors; then we have foolishly positioned ourselves at the cliff edge of imminent spiritual disaster and are poised to fall.

 Moreover, by ignoring the Spirit’s continual warning promptings and neglecting the redirecting and corrective counsel of the Word of God, obviously we place ourselves in the position to become completely victimized by the our ever-lurking spiritual enemies.

To be sure, it is typically the case that we totally fail to understand and utterly completely underestimate the true power of influence of “the world.”

Due to our failure to remain spiritually alert and spiritually vigilant to its seductive influences, routinely, we find ourselves drawn to its alluring offering, only to be ultimately, suddenly caught in it spiritually perilous snare.

“Beware of the World!” This timeless spiritual truth principle is the primary application focus point that is presented in the main text.

INSIDIOUS INFLUENCES

We (Christ followers) must never forget that the lurking Spector of “sin” is ever present before us, both originating from our fallen nature of depravity or approaching us from manifold directions in the fallen sphere (“the world”) around us.

A key aspect of this soul-crippling and life debilitating spiritual malady is its “insidious” nature. The word “insidious” simply means: ”awaiting a chance to entrap,” or “harmful but seductively enticing.”

As such, pertaining the present main account, the characterization of its shown here is quite instructionally befitting. It profile is also akin to the similar spiritual character of “leaven” as defined in biblical context.

Comparatively, then,the timeless bible truth principle regarding the insidious nature of cloaked sin is plainly described in 1 Corinthians 5:6b – “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”

Addressing the more pervasive underlying presence of spiritual leaven that had been interwoven within the broader tapersy of the predominant systems of influence that are present both in the sacred (religious) and secular sphere in the world; the Lord Jesus turned to his disciples (and us) then, verse 15 reported: "And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod."

Again in both instances, the Son of God is referring to the subtile, and misdirecting teaching that originated from the soul corrupting spring of evil, and had been propagated by among the general populated by the many tentacle arteries of influence that flowed from them.

In Colossians 2:4, every generations of Christ followers are keenly forewarned: "And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words."

Also, in verse 2:8, we are further cautioned: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Then too, in 1 John 4:1, the Spirit-directed inspired penned sharply exhorts us: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

Hence, in every instance, we (Christ followers ) are solemnly alerted to be on guard against the incessant barrage of unbiblical influences that will emerge from the fallen sphere ("the world") wherein we live.

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October 5, 2021

1 John 2:13-17 (KJV)

1 John 5:14) I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 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. 16) 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. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

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