| In the first Epistle, the Apostle John uses "lust" to | | | | and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." |
| describe any strong desire for, inclination toward or | | | | James 1:13-15. |
| deep attachment to things of the world. Lust of the | | | | The lust of the world is the catalyst that ignites all |
| flesh (epithumia) is the desire for worldly ambitions, | | | | sorts of sin and leaves in its path many innocent |
| selfish aims, and worldly pleasures. Lust of the eyes | | | | victims. Too many of us who call ourselves Christians |
| (epithmia of opthalmon) wants everything it sees and | | | | are tied to this world. We treat religion carelessly |
| wants everyone else to see it. | | | | because we are earthbound and not heavenbound. |
| John warns us: Do not love the world or anything in | | | | We cannot give up the world. We cannot give up our |
| the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the | | | | lust for the lotteries, bars, race tracks, and so forth. |
| Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the | | | | But Jesus made it clear when He told the rich young |
| cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the | | | | ruler, If you want eternal life, if you want to save |
| boasting of what he has and does--comes not from | | | | your soul, then you must pay the price and eternal |
| the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:15-16 | | | | life is not cheap. But if you really want the other |
| I think it is very unfortunate that our culture places | | | | world, you have to relinquish this world. You have to |
| such a high premium on the things of this world. We | | | | sell out. Get rid of all your worldly lust and then, |
| are a capitalistic nation and no other people on earth | | | | follow me. As you remember, the rich young ruler |
| have "things" in the abundance prevailing among us | | | | walked away. |
| here in America. What the "eye" see and desires, the | | | | So it was with Judas. He was too invested in the |
| hand is all too ready to grab. But in our mad, mad | | | | world and chose to trade Jesus for a small sum of |
| scrambling for "things" (pleasures, power, prestige, | | | | this world's pleasures and possessions. His deepest |
| recognition...) we become nothing more than lost | | | | lust for the world snowballed until it drove him to |
| puppets in the manipulating hands of the Evil One. | | | | make the mistake of his life. A mistake for which he |
| Our lust for the world is one of the biggest enemies | | | | is still to this very day despised. Scripture is filled with |
| to mankind. It has in its bosom every mode of evil | | | | verses that warn against the sin of lust. It illustrates |
| and transgression. It is our Sodom of soul and | | | | numerous examples of individuals who gave in to |
| Gomorrah of spirit. We want what the world offers | | | | their lustful desire and the negative consequences it |
| and turn our backs on the things of God. We | | | | had. |
| sacrifice our "real" world that we might enjoy the | | | | Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is |
| pleasures of the "fake" world. Satan baits us by | | | | born of God, and everyone who loves the father |
| appealing to our deepest illicit desires (which he is too | | | | loves his child as well. This is how we know that we |
| well acquainted with) and too many of us, because | | | | love the children of God: by loving God and carrying |
| of our own evil desires, fall prey. | | | | out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his |
| "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting | | | | commands. And his commands are not burdensome, |
| me'. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he | | | | for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This |
| tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his | | | | is the victory that has overcome the world, even our |
| own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. | | | | faith. 1 John 5:1-4. |
| Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; | | | | |