As I’ve grown in my faith,—grown in my personal walk with
Christ; He’s unveiled His greatest treasures and blessings to me after each
conversation I’ve had with Him, I’ve realized more and more that Him alone and
what He has in store for us in Heaven is a thousand times more important and
amazing than anything we could possibly experience here on this earth.
We live in a world that brands
drinking, partying, and having sex before marriage as “the cool thing to do.”
A world in which the media
informs us on all of the bad, but not the good.
A world in which people
fantasize over a photo shopped image on the cover of a magazine rather than
embracing who God created them to be.
A world in which countries
spend millions just to kill thousands of innocent people simply because they
want “revenge.”
A world in which war, hate, vainglory,
and severe division encompass the earth immensely.
A world in which people’s worth
is determined based on the amount of money they have in their banking
account.
“Little
Children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore
what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from
God," (1 John 4:4-6 NRSV).
Sad, isn't it? When we read the list I stated above, we think that it's
rock bottom. We believe that it is the lowest anyone could possibly go. However,
that’s not it to me. The fact that everything I just said to you is 100% true
saddens my heart. Not even the reality of these things is the worst part to me,
though. The thing that breaks my heart the most is that we all get so wrapped
up in what this world is doing and what this world is giving us that sometimes
we forget about the one thing that can truly give us everything we need,
and that is our King, Jesus.
It is the idea that people
really do think it is cooler to get drunk at a party rather than go to a
homeless shelter and give back. People truly think it is okay to put standards
on themselves based on edits and filters rather than realizing that we are
given one, true self. It is the idea that people are all for an “eye for an eye,” and getting back at someone
in retaliation.
The idea that people rely on
materialistic things to make them happy and give them satisfaction.
And while people have this mindset,
God waits from above to give us all we need. Yet, instead of giving Him our
attention, we focus on the world.
Now, by no means, am I saying
that I am perfect. We have all fallen for the world’s trap. We all have our
moments where we get tempted and give in. We all have our own sins and problems
that we need to deal with. At the end of
the day, I don't want the world. I want Jesus. I don’t need the world. I need Jesus. I don’t put my trust in the
world. I put my trust in Jesus. The same should go for all of us.
When I feel like I am tempted
to give in, it is then when I focus my eyes on what is truly important: Jesus.
The world can’t give you what
Jesus can. Look around you. All of this is a little thing I like to call temporary. Your school grades, your
house, your car, and not even your spouse are things that truly matter. It will
all end. But Jesus won’t. Jesus is the
same yesterday, today, and forever. His love never fails. It never gives up. It
never runs out on us. It remains. He is eternal. He is the key to eternal
life.
“For God
so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in
him may not perish but may have eternal life,” (John 3:16 NRSV).
While the world leaves me tired, confused, and
puzzled, God leaves me happy, energized, prepared, and ready to be bold.
“Do you
not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever
wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy with God,” (James
4:4, NRSV).
You know, I’ve tried putting my
trust in this world, but it didn’t work. Before I was reborn, I was following
the world’s rules. I was going by what the world was telling me…the world’s standards. And, as much as I
would try and fit in with the world, it just never worked. "What?" I’d wonder. "What is it that I am not getting? I’m
fitting in with the world. What is it that’s missing?" That’s when
Jesus knocked on the door that led to my heart and answered my question.
It was Him. It was Him all along.
“Do not
love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in
those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh,
the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from
the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the
will of God live forever," (1 John 2:15-17, NRSV).
Now, I could go on and on all day about how this
world and what it has to offer is nothing compared to what Jesus gives. I really could. But if I could give you
any piece of advice, it would be to do your very best to keep your eyes on Him
and only Him. What if you slip up? Pray
about it. Ask for forgiveness and move on. You are only human. God's mercy is
endless. He knows that no one has the capability of keeping it together every
second of every minute of every day. He
gets it.
All He wants is to know that you desire nothing but Him...because in
this crazy, messy world, He is our peace.
Don’t let the temptations of
this world shake you and make your relationship with Him unstable. This is
Satan’s doing. At the end of the day, there’s only one thing that matters. It’s
not your money. It’s not that car you just bought. It’s not the celebrities on
the cover of the magazines. It’s not those late night parties that are being
held. It is what’s between you and God.
Take the world, but give me Jesus.
Contemplate this saying: "In it, not of it. In it, not of it."
“Do not be
confirmed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so
that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and
perfect,” (Romans 12:2 NRSV).
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