The World

I've recently had an opportunity to confess an area of sin in my life that I've dealt with for ten years. I was able to meet with a pastor at my church and the Lord gave grace to confess things I've never told another living soul. I'd always heard people talk about bringing things to the light and how that would help and change things. I am a proud person and a people pleaser so the idea of pulling back the neatly groomed curtain to reveal the nasty mess behind it scared the crap out of me. I have to say that it has been a great experience. I have experienced not only grace from my pastors, but somehow confessing it has changed my attitude toward it and given hope for change. Not to say that I am now perfect or that that sin is over and done with. But it is out there. I have people who are ready, willing, and able to bear this burden with me and encourage me in my fight. Anyway, to the point given by the title of the post. I often struggle with a love of the world. There are sins in my life that directly contradict the Lord's established way and plan for me. It's so much easier to be led by my preferences and desires than to seek God's will and plan for me. The world is there offering all that our sinful desires want on a silver platter. And the world tells us that if we follow God's plan we miss out. We will be unhappy and unsatisfied. I can tell you from experience that seeking what my flesh wanted didn't lead to happiness and satisfaction. It has led me to unbelievable lows and things that I never thought I would experience much less make it through. Scripture is very clear about how the Christian should view the world. I John 2:15-17, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the lover 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 in possessions-is not from 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." Trading an eternity of good for a short time of happy seems foolish. The present happy seems better because it is present. It requires faith to endure hardships and losses in this temporary world looking ahead to an eternity of joy and fellowship with God. How can we fight our flesh and the world? Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." The easy way is rarely the best way. Good things take work and effort. This life is hard. If things seem easy you are probably doing something wrong. That's my experience anyway. The easy times are usually followed by the worst. But regardless there is grace extended through Christ's death on the cross. Seek that grace and humble yourself. Confess where you are and pull back those curtains. You might be surprised what a little light can do to that nastiness you've been hiding.