Love not the World: Part 3

1 John 2:16, “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.” (ESV). It is interesting to note that John’s warning here in this verse, brings us back to the Garden of Eden, where man first fell in sin. (See Gen. 3: 6). This same tactic that Satan was successful in using in the Garden, was also successful in causing Achan to sin (see Joshua 7: 21), and even king David to sin (see 2 Sam. 11: 2-4). However, he was not successful in using his threefold tactic against the Son of God. The Lord Jesus met all three tactics of Satan with the Word of God (see Matt. 4:1-11). Due to Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden, it is inevitable that “as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Rom. 5: 12, KJV). Even though Achan and David were not guilty of Adam’s particular sin in the Garden, yet they were sinners nonetheless (see Rom. 5: 14). An interesting parallel can be outlined from Genesis 3:6, which is the blue print, Joshua 7:21 and 2 Samuel 11: 2-4. They are as follows:

1.      Adam and Eve’s sin. (Gen. 3:6; 1 John 2: 16).

THE LUST OF THE FLESH — "Good for food."

THE LUST OF THE EYES — "Pleasant to the eyes."

THE PRIDE OF LIFE — "Desired to make one wise."

2.      Achan’s sin. (Joshua 7: 21; 1 John 2: 16).

THE LUST OF THE FLESH — "When I saw."

THE LUST OF THE EYES — "I coveted them."

THE PRIDE OF LIFE — "And took them."

3.      King David’s sin with Bathsheba. (2 Sam. 11: 2-4; 1 John 2:16).

THE LUST OF THE FLESH — "He saw a woman."

THE LUST OF THE EYES — "David sent and inquired after the woman."

THE PRIDE OF LIFE — "David...took her."

In each case we see the temptation and failure in response to it. However, we do not see failure on the part of our wonderful Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ in his response to Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. How wonderful to know that the Second Adam (Christ) was triumphant over the Devil’s threefold tactic. “That in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33, KJV). How encouraging to know that Christ overcame the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

Lord, thank you for this threefold warning by the Apostle John in answer to the Devil’s threefold tactic in tempting me to sin. Grant unto me an awareness as well as a spiritual sensitivity to the temptations that the enemy would use against me in causing me to stumble into sin. Amen.

Lord’s Day June 22, 2008; Entry: 4. Taken from "Living Between the Transient and the Real."