It’s no secret. The world spends billions of dollars each year to convince us that the products it sells will fulfill us, give us joy, complete the longing for something, or increase the love in our lives. Yet, most things will eventually end up in a landfill, a pawn shop, a second-hand store, or perhaps if it is really useful an antique mall. In the end, it’s all just stuff and while it fills a purpose for a time, it should never be looked to as a means of obtaining everlasting happiness.
Does This Make Sense?
The love we seek from God is all we desperately and truly need. A relationship with Him where we seek Him each and every day and listen to His voice when He speaks is what will give us the lasting peace and all the rest we crave so dearly. While the world tries to deceive us and move us away from this truth, it cannot change the truth that nothing in this world, no amount of wealth, fame, valuables, and stuff will ever completely satisfy us. Because in the nano-second when we leave this world, it will all be taken away. None of us will escape physical death, except perhaps Enoch (Gen. 5:24) and that is okay! We were not meant to. The good news is Jesus lived and died this experience out for us, so we have His example. He showed us that there is life after death through His resurrection and afterward – eternal life.
A life that is eternal with our God. Many people get lost in this thought and can’t begin to imagine what they would be doing for all eternity, but doing this, they miss the many things in this life and world they would really want to do if they had more time, money, health, etc.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
This life is to experience in abundance (John 10:10). Experience all of the things God gave us, and help others through it. It is to love and learn to love so purely that no one questions our motives, our agenda, or our judgment. So what are we willing to allow ourselves to experience today? New relationships? New friendships? New experiences with God while living in the world? We have to be here, but we don’t have to live outside of the will of God.
What did Jesus experience in His life when He walked on earth 2,000 years ago? From what we read, He experienced moments of life to teach, correct, love, cry, heal, deliver, and raise others from dead or what He called “sleep”, and so much more that isn’t written about. Does this align with our lives now? Are we doing the works as He did and even greater things like He said we would do or are we stuck in a world of unfulfilled joy and happiness because we are being led by the world and its ideas of what life should be?
What Is the World Telling Us to Do Right Now?
What I hear from the world is to:
stay fearful,
stay broken,
stay sad and depressed,
stay inside,
stay 6 feet apart, and
stay in obedience to it.
What I hear from God is to:
worry not,
fear not,
be healed,
have joy,
love each other,
have peace, and
listen to Him.
One path, the path of sin, leads to death. While the other, the path of Jesus Christ, leads to eternal life.
Which Path Are We Following?
I simply don’t care what the world thinks, says, or wants me to do if it doesn’t come from a biblical point of view. You see, I followed the world and all the things in the world for the past 40+ years without giving God a proper chance. It wasn’t until I completely surrendered to Him in 2018 that He made Himself completely real to me. Once I knew His goodness, His mercy, His friendship, and His love – there is no turning back to the world. Why would I? The world has made a lot of promises to us that it will not and cannot fulfill.
Just take a peek at advertising for a moment to see broken promises in action. Will that lip balm really heal my chapped lips, forever? Will this hair treatment truly make my hair thicker and fuller, forever? Will the Big Mac value meal actually satiate my hunger, forever?
Uh – no to all three counts. Sorry world, but you are guilty! Guilty of lying, deceiving, and making your advertisements perfect while your “products” fall short and can only be seen as the lies that they are. Deception is everywhere it seems. So let’s pronounce the world judgment!
- You, world, are guilty of stealing countless marriages by making the grass look greener on the other side.
- You, world, are guilty of lying about how our bodies won’t be hurt by the extra 3,000 calorie ice cream treats.
- You, world, are guilty of deceiving people to think they need new things as soon as they come out for fear of being left behind or judged by others.
- You, world, are guilty of destroying the young by allowing them to hold opinions or lies about the world, their bodies, their sexuality as truths.
- You, world, are guilty of killing man by convincing us there isn’t enough room for more of God’s children causing people to destroy by abortion to prevent overpopulation or as a way to control the climate.
- What lie has the world served you that you’ve come to the realization of truth recently?
Many of the world’s promises are lies. There is only one who can deliver on their promise and He is God.
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
1 John 5:19
God Promises are Good
God promises that when we lay down and sacrifice our lives to Him, serve others, and do His will while we are here, then great is our reward in the next life. And I know that the next life is MORE REAL than this one. I’ve seen it! I will never go back to thinking that this life is the one we should love. In fact, the Bible says not to love this world or anything in it. This is where we often get it wrong.
The Bible shows us that there will be many that are deceived by the world and will go chasing after it, its lying doctrines of demons, and their hearts will grow cold (Matthew 24). The Bible also says that while we are in the world, to be not of the world, but of the Kingdom of God.
We know the Bible is the word of God and Jesus is the living word of God (John 1:14). This is our foundation of truth, whether it goes against the world’s standards, ideas, beliefs, or new ways of thinking. John 16:13 says the Holy Spirit of God will lead us to all truth. So together, the Bible and the Holy Spirit will bring us through this life in preparation for the next.
This is the truth that I have finally come to know as eternal truth and one that does not fade away, get chipped or damaged, become changed, become false, lose its luster, become trash, or become spoilt. It is truth forevermore.
Joy Inside
Finally, the Bible contains the truth and in it, there is joy inside. And when we read it, receive it as the truth, obey it, and teach it, we will find that the joy it holds transfers to us. We too will have joy inside. And with it, we can preach and teach the whole world about Jesus and what He did for us all.
So let’s open it up today and learn all that God has for His children and the Holy Spirit will walk with us through the rest of our day while we are here. The Bible says that Jesus is the truth, the way (path), the door, and the life. In Him is eternal joy and those who seek Him with their whole heart will find Him.
Blessings to you this day. May the Lord shine His everlasting light of truth on you and reveal His plan for your day and life. May He give you peace and hope during these times and guide you with His eye as you prepare for the life to come. You are loved!
In Christ,
Darrell