Showing posts with label The World. Show all posts

Monday, September 8, 2014

The Power of Persuasion [Video]

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Graffiti and Our Response to Persecution

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, March 20, 2011

1 Corinthians 16:8-9, “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

Colossians 4:2-6, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

Philippians 1:12-14, “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”

I know that that was a larger than normal grouping of passages to read as we open up our study time this morning. Nevertheless, I wanted to sort of set the stage for what I want to share with you today, and to use these verses to provide the Biblical context and foundation for what I am about to say.

This last week, on Thursday morning, the phone rang at our home, and it was Officer Mitch Jenkins of the McKinney Police Department. He was calling to inform me that our beloved house of worship – this building – had been hit by vandals, who had spray painted profane words on the west end outside wall of our facility. Officer Jenkins informed me that the graffiti had all the signs of street gang activity. He had seen such evidence many times before, including across the street from us in the last several days. And, he also urged us to be on the lookout for suspicious activity involving groups of young people, ‘hanging out’ in our neighborhoods, and to call the police to report such activity.

To be honest with you, as I am sure is true for you, when I heard this news, a number of different thoughts and reactions passed through my mind.

For one thing, I was angered and offended that it had happened. ‘How could they do such a thing, and to a house of worship?’ But, then I thought, “Why not? I mean, we’re here, aren’t we? To shine the light of Christ’s truth and love into the darkness of Satan’s dominion, should it surprise us when something like this occurs? Should it astonish us when the devil and his servants fight back?’

Then, I thought: ‘As a matter of fact, what is surprising is that something like this, or perhaps, something far worse hasn’t happened here before.’ By the way, saying that, I am not intending to stir up fear in any of us; remember Jesus’ words? He urged us not to fear those who can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, He challenged us to fear God, Who alone has the power and authority, to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).

Now, don’t misunderstand me, please. I don’t think that Jesus intends for us to be foolhardy in our ‘boldness’ to take unnecessary risks, or to fail to provide appropriate safety precautions for when we meet here for worship and other activities. But, listen, ultimately, where does our trust, our confidence, our security and safety lie? In a dead-bolt? In a guard light? In an alarm system, 9-1-1 or even in a law enforcement officer in our midst? The fourth of the four passages I read from a moment ago put it like this: “Brethren, PRAY FOR US, that we may be delivered [that God may rescue us] from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But [what an important word that is!] ask God to rescue us from unreasonable and wicked men, for not all have faith! But the Lord is faithful, He will establish you and guard you from the evil one!” Our trust, our confidence, our safety and security, as these words of a man who knew danger, who experienced hardship and extreme opposition from those absurd and wicked men he mentions here, ultimately is and must be in Someone who is ALWAYS faithful to shield His people from the evil one!

Yes, when I received Officer Jenkins’ phone call, I had several different thoughts and reaction to what he told me. But, then I remembered the first of the passages I read at the beginning this morning, the 1 Corinthians 16 text. Take a look again at it with me, wil you? What does it say? The apostle Paul in brief fashion here in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 summarizes for us what we can read about in detail in Acts chapters 19 and 20. He is ministering in a city called Ephesus, home of the false goddess, the demonic worship of Diana, a city, like our city, home of thousands of people from all kinds of backgrounds and all of them – ALL of them – in need of hearing and believing the gospel of Christ. What does the apostle Paul remind us about here? What divinely-inspired insight into our situation does he supply for us here? Take a look. He says, “I’m going to stick around here in Ephesus for a while yet, at least till Pentecost.” But why, Paul? Why? “Because a great and effective door [a divinely-arranged opportunity] has opened to me [here], and there are many adversaries.”

My friends, it would be easy and perhaps, from a human perspective, quite understandable, to think to react with anger, or out of fear. To exclaim, ‘we’re gonna find those criminals, and we’re gonna see that they get what they deserve!’ or to cower in the corner and whimper, ‘well, I guess we need to close up the place and go into hiding.’ But, listen: if we do react in one of those ways, I believe the devil will have won the victory here!

‘Hey, y’all! Just wanted you to know that I’ve run into some opposition here in Ephesus, so, I’m taking my candle and relocating it to Philippi. I’m putting my light under a bushel!” Is that what Paul did? Is that what Jesus wants us to do?

Beloved, it shouldn’t surprise us, not one bit, when unbelievers, when enemies of the cross of Christ - whose god is their fleshly desires and whose glory, whose greatest thrill is found in their wicked and shameful thoughts and words and actions – it shouldn’t ever surprise us when those who are in the darkness ACT like those dwell in Satan’s dominion! But, it should anger us! What? Yes! But, with a righteous anger, a God-prompted anger. Satan, the roaring lion, is on the prowl, and he is gobbling up people, especially young people, left and right! We should be angry enough to determine, to resolve, NEVER to let evil triumph! But, to overcome evil, through God’s infinite strength, with good!

And, instead of only shaking our heads in disgust, let us fall on our knees, in broken-hearted, passionate prayer for these whose lives are being decimated by the one who hates them and wants to destroy them! (John 10:10)

My loved ones, we have before us a great and effective door, a wide-open, God-ordained opportunity to impact this neighborhood for Jesus’ sake. But, listen. It‘s not going to be easy! And, listen, our door of opportunity will be missed, if we do not make it a prayer priority.

Yes, yes, I know that we have a lot to pray about with respect to needs of the flock. People in the hospital, loved ones and brothers and sisters in Christ, struggling physically, emotionally, spiritually, even financially. But, listen, what about the LOST little lambs? When was the last time we prayed and worked earnestly, driven by the compassion and urgency of the GOOD Shepherd, to reach and rescue them?

B---- S., our new brother in Christ, a teacher over here at the ‘Linc Center’ as it is called, put it best when he explained to me yesterday, “You know, David, I’ve figured out what God’s purpose for me is. God put me there, at the Linc Center, to help all the hurting and troubled kids who are my students. I’ve been hurt. My background has some trouble in it, and so I can relate to them. God has put me there to minister to these young people.”

A door of opportunity, great and effectual, God has opened it up for B----. And, he’s making the most of it. And, yes, in a dark and difficult place like the one where he works, his light, the light of Christ shining through him, is not without opposition or hindrance! Pray for him, will you? Encourage him in his work.

This is kind of an unusual sermon today. But, of course, it is written and preached in light of our unusual situation, in light of our unique opportunity.

If I may, I’d like to leave you with two questions to ponder, and passages of Scripture that I pray God will use to guide your thoughts and meditations into His truth concerning these matters.

First the questions:

Why did this happen? One of the most gut-wrenching questions that confronts God’s people is the WHY question. “Why do bad things happen to God’s people?”

Secondly, let’s ask ourselves: what are we to DO, what does God want us to BE and DO in light of what has happened?

Now, the Scriptural insights to help us answer and act upon these question: Philippians 1:12ff and Colossians 4:2ff. God’s inspired answer, through the words of the apostle Paul, God’s heavenly insight into the WHY question. Let’s read these texts:

Why do BAD things happen to God’s people? One of the answers, one of the heavenly insights into this question that we must see - and see clearly - is that which the apostle Paul provides for us while wearing the chains of a prisoner, in custody of the state. By the way, the details regarding the how he came to be detained by the Roman government are recorded in Acts chapters 21 through 28.

Why do BAD things happen to God’s people? Philippians 1:12ff, “…what has happened to me has actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel… Christ is being preached,” he exclaims, in verse 18, “and because of that I rejoice!” One of the answers to the WHY question, building on a foundation that we live in a fallen world, where Satan is working feverishly to do his dirty work, a world where folks like Paul and us – God’s people – are affected and impacted by the darkness all around us, by sinners serving Satan; one of the answers to the WHY question that is built on that back to Genesis foundation, yet that beams brightly with the light and hope of the New Covenant, is this perspective: “bad things happen to God’s people so as to advance the gospel! Seemingly bad things like chains and imprisonment, graffiti, theft and vandalism, happen to “open up a door to us for the word,” Colossians 4:3.

So, then, what are we to DO? What does God want us to BE and DO in light of what has happened here?

2 Corinthians 2:12-17, “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”

What are we to do? Go buy a case of our own spray paint and find where those folks live and pay them back? I hope you know the answer to that one. No! What we are to do is to spread the aroma of Christ, His marvelously pungent, penetrating fragrance in every place! We are, as Paul goes on to say in chapter 3:1-6, to minister the new covenant of grace and truth in Christ to human hearts. We are to BE – to BE – to some, the aroma of death leading to death, but to others, praise God, to others – God, who is our sufficiency, God who by His almighty spirit enables us - to DO and to BE, through Him, to others, the aroma of life leading to life!

Graffiti on the wall of our beloved house of worship: surprising? Not really. Frustrating? In a sense. But, listen: keep in mind this one very sobering reality taken from the words of one who experienced far more violent and virulent opposition than we have yet to see:

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, its shining radiance, is hidden from their sight. And, so they are groping, think of it! What an awful situation! They are groping, in the dark, about to tumble headlong over the precipice of no return! They are perishing! And what are we o do? We are to be God’s agents in rescuing them. Will it be easy? No! But, must we do it? Yes. Yes!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Apostasy: the Fatal Choice

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, June 6, 2010.

1 John 2:18-27: “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us – eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

Our subject today is not one that anybody would consider a favorite topic. It is not one that will send goose bumps up and down your spine, or even bring a smile to your face. Nevertheless, it is a necessary subject, a topic we need to explore because of how timely it is, and how prevalent it is, and is becoming.

It is a subject, frankly, that has more to do with subtracting than adding to the Body of Christ. It is a topic that deals more with losses, than with gains. And, none of that, of course, is the kind of thing we like to talk about. None of that gives us a ‘CHARGE,’ so to speak.

Nevertheless, here we are with a passage of Scripture that does talk about it, and perhaps, if we look around and think about it, here we are with a situation that illustrates it, and even begs for it to be examined. I am talking about the subject of APOSTASY.

Apostasy… Now, that word may not be one that is in your day-to-day vocabulary, one that you use frequently, or maybe have even heard of before. So, let me take just a moment to define it and to briefly explain it, before we move on in our study of it. Apostasy, what is it? Simply put, it is the ABANDONMENT of one’s religion – or, we might say it this way, it is the departure, the walking away from one’s faith in Christ.

Now, listen. While you’re thinking about what I’ve just said, allow me to add this in – this word, ‘APOSTASY’ is rarely, if ever used, in our English Bibles. However, don’t let that confuse you, because though this word is rarely found in our Bibles, the concept behind it is prevalent throughout the Bible. For example, in John chapter 6, following His teaching on the Bread of Life, verses 66 and 67 indicate that some who had previously followed Jesus, went back, turned around and walked away from following Jesus any longer. In Matthew 24, Jesus, looking to the future, both immediate and long range, instructs the twelve to the effect that, in the future there will be many who will fall away from the faith. There will be many who, because of the afflictions and persecutions that go with following Christ, because of the deception of false prophets leading them astray, and, because of allurements of ever-increasing temptations, Jesus says, “The love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:9-13)

Apostasy, what is it? Well, in today’s study text it is, or entails, a denial of the deity of Jesus (1 John 2:22). And, in 2 Peter, it involves living such a life of open, unrepentant sin, that by one’s lifestyle, by one’s sinful behavior, he or she denies the faith (2 Peter 2:20). All of which, according to several New Testament passages (including this one here), is characteristic of the last days. (see 2 Thess. 2:3, 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1,5; 2 Tim. 4:3ff)

Apostasy… As I said, this is not going to end up being one of your most favorite sermons. However, it may end up being one of the most necessary, and I pray, helpful sermons I have ever preached.

1 John 21:18ff – The first thing we note, the first thing we come to find out from this passage, as it deals with the subject of apostasy, is simply this: Apostasy is a fact.

1 John 2:18-19: “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”

As much as we’d like to think and believe otherwise, apostasy is not a far-off, future prophecy, yet-to-be-fulfilled, but a present reality. The apostle John says it like this in verse 18, “As you have heard that the Antichrist [capital ‘A’] is coming, even now are there many antichrists [lower case ‘a’]. This is how we know it is the last hour…”

The fact of Apostasy - it is a hard cold, first-thing-in-the-morning, first look-in-the-mirror kind of thing – yes. Nevertheless, we must not overlook it or refuse to acknowledge it. To fail to acknowledge this fact, is to do so to our peril, and to the peril of many others, including those sitting next to you in this room.

The fact of Apostasy, John says it this way, in chapter 4:1ff.

1 John 4:1-6: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, where they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Apostasy, what is it? It is a departure from faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And, yes, though we may wish otherwise, it is a fact.

But then, secondly, please note why acknowledging that fact, the fact of apostasy, is so crucial for you and me. Let me put it this way, it is critical, essential for us to realize and recognize that apostasy is occurring – why? Because Apostates, those who turn their backs on Christ, are dangerous! Apostates are dangerous!

Now, you might be asking yourself, “Dangerous?! How can folks like that be dangerous?” To begin to answer that question, allow me, first of all, to point you to verse 26 of our text.

1 John 2:26 – “These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.”

According to this verse, what is it that makes Apostates so dangerous, as far as the faithful followers of Christ are concerned? One thing, you see, don’t you? They are all about deceiving people, they are all about leading the faithful down the path of destruction that they are walking! But, how is it that they come to be deceivers to begin with? Good question. Take a look at the 4 steps that these false brothers and former sisters take, that leads them, and can end up, leading others into apostasy. Step number one, they depart from the truth. They depart from the truth – verses 21 and 22.

1 John 2:21-22: “I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.”

Secondly, they decide to DENY God the Father, by denying Jesus the Son. Read it again in verses 22 and 23.

1 John 2:22-23: “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”

In taking just these two steps, Apostates show themselves to be dangerous. But, look closer at the text and you’ll notice something very startling.

In moving in the direction of apostasy, these false brothers and former sisters not only depart from the truth and deny God the Father and Jesus the Son, they also DEFECT to the world, and end up DESPISING the faithful. Take a look, apostasy, what is it? 1 John 2:19 – It is going out like Judas Iscariot, when he left the upper room to carry out his sinister plot against Jesus. Apostasy is a going out.

But, going out – where? 1 John 4:1,5 – It is going out into the world – not to preach the good news of Jesus Christ – no! But, a going out, like Judas did when he open his heart to the devil. Apostasy is a going out from a relationship with Jesus Christ, and with God’s people, in order to DEFECT to the world!

Secondly, note also that apostasy – this defection to the world – also entails a leaving behind of the promises that God makes to those who belong to Him through faith in Christ. And, what are those promises? In a nutshell, two words sum up all of those precious promises that are ‘yes,’ and ‘amen’ to the glory of God, in Jesus Christ. What are those two words?

1 John 2:25 – eternal life. Think of it this way: 1 John 2:15-17 – In defecting to the world, loving it’s things, and choosing that love over love for the Father and the Son – what is the apostate choosing? And, what is he leaving behind? 1 John 2:17 – He is choosing something that is passing way, the world and its lusts, and he is losing – LOSING – what abides forever! Why is apostasy so dangerous? Apostasy, DEPARTING from the truth, DENYING the Father and the Son, DEFECTING to the world in not only dangerous to the faithful – they may try to deceive us – but sadly, it also is very dangerous to the apostate. His going out, and his leaving behind where will it all ultimately lead him or her? 1 John 2:28 – I love this verse, don’t you? As someone why, by God’s grace, is seeking to walk with Jesus, not away from Him – look what’s in store for me, for you – and sadly, not for them:

1 John 2:28 – “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at his coming.”

As those who are abiding in Him, not choosing to become apostate, we look ahead to the day when Christ will appear - to standing before Him confidently and unashamedly. But to what can they look forward? What is in their future?

Apostasy is dangerous, have I made that clear yet? It is dangerous, and so, my brothers and sisters, one more thing along these lines, in defecting to the world and to the prince of this world – 1 John 3:1 – it shouldn’t surprise us that they don’t acknowledge us. 1 John 4:5-6 – it shouldn’t surprise us that they don’t listen to us. And, one more, 1 John 3:13, in defecting to the world, and to Satan, the prince of this world, it shouldn’t surprise us that they hate us! Jesus said they would! No surprise there, really! So, what then?

The fact of apostasy, and the dangerous nature of the apostates, leads us in one direction. It leads us in the direction of having to make a choice ourselves. What is that choice, at least, the one that the Spirit of God, and His spokesman, the apostle John, would have us make? It is the choice to abide, to abide in Christ, to abide in His truth, to continue in fellowship with His people, rather than to become apostate! Before we move on too quickly examine this choice, allow me to clarify something for all us, right here, right now - abiding in Christ, in His truth, and so on AND choosing to become apostate, there are NO OTHER CHOICES! Those are the only two options we have! So, what then? 1 John 2:24, 27-28 – we can either OBEY the command of God to abide and reap the benefits – “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” We can choose to obey these commands, and be blessed, or - we can choose apostasy, no promised blessings, no future benefits, nothing but painful, dreadful, eternal consequences!

Okay, so I decide to abide – help me! Can you show me how? This Book [the Bible], this letter, it’s full of ‘how-tos’. 1 John 1:7 – “Walk in the light, as He is in the light.” 1 John 2:15-17 – “Love not the world…” Pray, consistently – Ephesians 6, Philippians 4, and many other places. Train effectively – Hebrews 12, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 9, etc. These things are keys to abiding, yes! But, don’t forget! Don’t every forget one most important thing: 1 John 2:20, “You have an anointing from the Holy One…” You have an anointing from the Holy One... Now, what does that mean? How does that impact you and me? Number one, you don’t need the deceptive lies of the false brothers. Test them, and you’ll see. If you find out that they are denying Christ and have defected to the world, you don’t need their teaching. In fact, 1 John 2:18-27 – in Christ, you have an anointing, the Holy Spirit’s anointing, and through Him, God teaches you the truth. And, one more thing – 1 John 4:4 – Pray consistently, train effectively, yes! But, most of all, remember, remember, remember,

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you in greater than he who is in the world.”

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Love Not the World

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, May 30, 2010

1 John 2:15-17: “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 lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

It all began as a friendly, Sunday afternoon conversation over the back fence. My neighbor and I were discussing what each one of us had been up to lately. He told me about his work. And I, of course, told him about my work as a minister with this church. We tossed our words and thoughts back and forth for a few more minutes, and then my neighbor – I will call him ‘Chris’ - made this interesting statement: he said, “Well, you know, I’m not really religious at all. I don’t pray, or go to church, or anything like that…”

I have a question for you, as we begin our look at this powerful and actually, rather painful passage from the letter of John. In light of what the Holy Spirit led the apostle John to write here, what would you say to my neighbor in response to his claim about religion? How would you reply to my friend, Chris?

Sixty years or more before John wrote these words, the beloved apostle – as he is called – heard Someone else say something very similar to what he wrote here. Listen in, if you would, to these ‘red letter words’ that John heard: “No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God AND mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

By the way, fourteen hundred or so years before Jesus said what He said there in Matthew chapter six; the Lord God directed Moses to write something very similar in what we call the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament law. Check out Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me,” and Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” Isn’t it interesting and amazing, the unity of theme and thought found in this Book? Writers separated by hundreds of years declare the same truths. Why? Because ultimately their Source for those truths is one and the same Source [the Lord]!

1 John 2:15-17. As I said a moment ago, this is a powerful, if not painful passage; a passage that really does speak to my friend Christ, and that speaks to us, too. But, what is its message? How are we to understand and apply it’s truth? Well, notice, first of all, how the text begins: it begins with a command, a negative command, or what we might call a prohibition. “Do not love the world or the things in the world…”

Literally, in the language of the apostle John, the apostle’s message to Christian, first of all, is “STOP loving the world. No more of this whole-hearted investment of yourself in the things of this world…”

“Now, John… why would you make such a statement? What’s gotten into you that you would make a demand on us like that?”

Well, before we hear what the Spirit of God says to us through John’s words, allow me to remind you of what we have already observed. Number one, Jesus makes the same demand: you’ve got to choose! Serve God, or serve mammon – this world and it’s things, but you can’t serve both! Secondly, through Moses God said the same thing! “You shall have,” that’s command language, by the way. “You shall have no other gods before me… in addition to Me, alongside Me!” In fact, the implication from that command is what? “You shall have ME! I am your God, your Master, your Possessor, your King!”

So, the first thing we need to realize about the apostle John’s words here – his authoritarian-sounding demand here – is that originally this is not his requirement, his command or demand - but the command and requirement of God and of Christ. We claim to belong to them, to be their people. Here is what they expect of us! Right here in the Bible!

But, listen. Notice then how John builds on that words Jesus, words of the Lord God through Moses foundation, with the following reasons or rationales for this command: “Do not love the world, or the things that are in the world…” Why?

Reason number one: because those in whom love of this world is present, the love of the Father is absent! “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

I was meditating on the significance of that statement as I was putting the finishing touches on this sermon, when it hit me: those in whom the love of the world is present, the love of the Father is absent! Notice the apostle John does not say, “The love of God is not in them,” or even, “The love of the Creator is not in them…” Those two statements make the One who knows us best, and loves us most seem more distant, more detached, more out of touch! But, listen, that’s not what the Holy Spirit declares to us through the Apostle’s pen, is it? I mean, if my Maker is detached and disconnected from me, why shouldn’t I be the same from Him? You understand the thinking there, don’t you? But, listen! That’s not what this Book says! Rather, it says, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” You know whom I thought of when that truth hit home? The prodigal son, Luke 15:25-32. Oh, but listen, not the son, the one we normally refer to as the prodigal, who left home and his father to waste his inheritance on wild living, no! This verse in 1 John 2 made me remember the second prodigal son; the older brother, the son who DIDN’T leave home, at least not physically, but whose heart hadn’t been one with his father for years!

“Love not the world, nor the things in the world…” Why not, John? Here’s why: if anyone loves the world, if that’s where their treasure is, where their HEART is, then guess what? They are the ones who are disconnected, detached and distant! “The love of the Father is not in them.”

There’s a second reason that the apostle John gives for his command, his demand, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” It’s the one that we find in verse 16 of our text. Take a look at what it says:

1 John 2:16 – “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

A few years ago, back when I was in high school, someone gave me a T-shirt with a Christian message on the front of it. It was a spin-off to a brand of shampoo sold back in those days called “Earthborn”. The message on the shirt went like this: “I’m earth-born, but heaven-bound. John 3:16.” You know something? That brief statement is an excellent motto for every Christian to live by! “I’m earth-born, but heaven-bound.” The problem is, when we begin to sink our roots into what moths and rust corrupts, when we begin to set our hearts on what thieves can break through and steal – guess what? We’re re-writing the motto! Instead of “Earth-born, but heaven-bound,” when we begin to love what is worldly, not heavenly – and long for what is sensual and not spiritual – our life’s motto is no longer, “Earth-born, but heaven-bound,” but “Earth-born and earth-bound.” Yes, earth bound! “Christian?” “Christian?” Is that what we call ourselves? Then listen, according to Philippians 3:17-21, our citizenship is up there, in heaven; and this old body, diseased, dying, decaying, it will be remade to spend eternity up there with our Savior Who is coming to take us there! If, we are earth-born, but heaven-bound. If we are!

There’s an old saying that I saw realized once again, when I went to the hospital Friday night to meet with and grieve with Lewis D.’s family. The old saying goes like this: “Death is the great equalizer.”

In explaining the third reason John gives as to why Christians are to STOP loving the world and the things in the world, I can’t help but think about the facts of life, and the fact, the unavoidable fact of death! Why shouldn’t I sink my roots down deep into THIS world? Why shouldn’t I pursue the American Idol thing or the Texas Lottery thing or the keep up with the Jones thing? Why shouldn’t I? “The world is passing away and the lust of it…” Everything that has anything to do with THIS world is temporary and fading. And, if somehow like the rich man in that parable Jesus told in Luke 16:19-31, we think that in this world we’re going to get ahead, listen, my friends, DEATH is the great equalizer! It took the poor man Lazarus AND the rich man, and all his wealth – out! It took both of them out!

In the world of the Wall Street crowd, if you’re investing in things you can taste, touch or see, one of these days it will all be gone! Because of the great equalizer! Oh, but listen, as we prepare to close out this study, note that John offers us one more rationale, a forth reason why loving the world and its things is the wrong way to go. It, too, is attached to the idea of death equalizing everything out. Read verse 17 with me one more time:

1 John 2:17 – “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

As I looked upon Lewis’s lifeless body, as I said, I was reminded of the truth of that old maxim, “Death is the great equalizer.” You know something? Old maxims tell us a lot, but they don’t tell us the whole story! However this Book, God’s Word, does!

Because Lewis D. – like his family reminded me the other night – was a Psalm one man, a man in whose delight was in the law of the Lord, and who meditated on this Book day and night, for Lewis death is not the whole story! Rather, because Lewis loved God, laid up treasure in heaven, guess what? 1 John 2:17 – Here’s the end, or perhaps I should say the rest of the Lewis’ story:

“The world is passing away, and the lust of it. But, because Lewis D. sought to do the will of God, Lewis D. lives forever – forever!”

“I don’t pray, I don’t go to church. I’m not really religious - at all.” That’s what my friend Chris said – what would you say to him?

Well, Chris - everybody loves something, everybody serves and worships something! You have chosen to love and serve and worship things – what you can see and taste and touch, and what death, the great equalizer, can take all away! But by God’s sovereign grace, I have chosen to love Some-one. Someone whose existence I can’t prove scientifically, but whose fingerprints are all over my life, and, if you’ll admit it, are all over your life, too! You have chosen to pursue what the rich man pursued. I have chosen to seek what the poor man Lazarus sought. One of these days, death will come knocking on both of our doors. My Father, promises a place for me with Him forever. But, for you, Chris, there is no such promise…