WAR WITHIN! There is an undeniable contradiction between the world and the person who is in Christ. To His critics, Jesus said it this way: "The world cannot hate you; but Me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil" (John 7:7). There the ultimate contradiction – the world hating Jesus. And why is this so? Because Jesus is in sharp conflict with the world. He comes from an eternal order, and the world is temporal. Jesus said that when He left this world, He would send the Holy Spirit. However, the world would not be able to receive that Spirit: "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:16-17). -- Tomorrow:
"But I see another law in my members, WARRING against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (Rom 7:23).
Devotion 8 of 23
Jesus reminded His disciples, "If THE WORLD hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, THE WORLD would love his own: but because ye are not of THE WORLD, but I have chosen you out of THE WORLD, therefore THE WORLD hateth you" (John 15:19). There is an irreconcilable clash between the world and Jesus, and between the world and His disciples. Men may attempt to reconcile these contradicting parties, but it cannot be done. Either the person identified with Christ must deny Him and become a friend of the world, or those who are of the world must reject the world and run to Jesus!
From the very beginning, Jesus intended that His disciples be separate from the world – in a very real sense disconnected from it because of the unreconcilable conflict between them and it. That is why Jesus said, "If ye were of THE WORLD, THE WORLD would love his own: but because ye are not of THE WORLD, but I have chosen you out of THE WORLD, therefore THE WORLD hateth you" (John 15:19).
John states the case this way, "If any man love THE WORLD, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). And again, the contrast is clearly declared: "And THE WORLD passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:17). And again, "Marvel not, my brethren, if THE WORLD hate you" (1 John 3:13).
"The world" is something that must be overcome, not courted. Thus it is written, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh THE WORLD: and this is the victory that overcometh THE WORLD, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh THE WORLD, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5).
James makes this very poignant statement to backsliding people who were courting the world's favor. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of THE WORLD is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of THE WORLD is the enemy of God" (James 4:4). There should be no question about the stance of the child of God toward the world. In Christ Jesus, we have come into an eternal order (2 Cor 4:18), possess eternal life (1 John 5:13, and are expecting an "eternal inheritance" (Heb 9:15).
Because of its basic contradiction to God, Jesus came to "DELIVER" us from the world. This is something purposed by God Himself. As it is written, "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD, according to the will of God and our Father" (Gal 1:4). Presently, we are delivered from its power and influence. Ultimately, we shall be delivered from it completely, "spirit, soul, and body" (1 Thess. 5:23).
Salvation, from this perspective, is the translation of men from the inferior realm to the superior one – from the corrupted world to the eternal one. These are opposing orders between which dissonance is unavoidable. Our transition to the everlasting realm is described in these words; "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col 1:13). There is no possible way to be in harmony with this world, and yet maintain the favor of heaven. If a person chooses to blend in with this present evil world, whatever reason may be given for such a foolish choice, it will be at the expense of eternal life.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to consistently see the world as my enemy so that I myself will not become Your enemy.