If You Win the Rat Race, You're Still a Rat!

John, the beloved disciple, continues his beautiful little letter from God with words of encouragement. He repeats the words "I write to you" over and over to bring encouragement and peace to followers of Jesus, emphasizing that his words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, apply to us personally. Later on in chapter four, John tells us this truth: "Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world."

In verse 15, we're given a strong warning to not love the world or the things in the world. The Bible talks about the world, and there are different senses of the word. For example, when the Bible says, "For God so loved the world," the Bible is speaking of God's love for people. Here, when John says, "Do not love the world," he is talking about the evil systems, sin, and practices that go along with the world: man trying to get by without God.

The desires of the flesh are appetites that we allow to control us instead of God. Whether it's food, pleasure, or sexual immorality, anything that gets in the way of us and God is a desire of the flesh. The desires of the eyes are just as tempting: coveting what someone else has or lusting after someone or something.

The desires of the eyes are equally as dangerous. The pride of life is trying to live self-sufficient, trying to get by without God. What a shame it would be if you climbed up the ladder of life only to realize the ladder was leaning against a burning building. You could gain all the titles, career achievements, finances, and toys that this world promises, but still lose your soul. If you win the rat race, you're still a rat!

John says all of these things, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life, are passing away, along with the cravings and desires for them. The good news is that when you do God's will and walk in God's way, you can never go wrong. The results may not be instant, but the rewards are eternal. Yes, the one who does God's will live forever.