The World or Jesus?

The world or Jesus?

2Ti 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica

Loved this present world.

Do you love this present world?

Do you love the pleasures of this world more than the sacrifices needed to belong to Christ?

People don't like to believe they need to make any sacrifices, that Christ doesn't ask us to make sacrifices at all, that it would be wrong of Him to ask that of us. People want to believe that everything they do shy of outright civil law breaking is acceptable.  These are untruths we tell ourselves so we can get away with all sorts of things- loving this present world.

We are told we have to love this world by virtually everyone. If we profess a dislike for this world in any REAL way we are told we are psychologically damaged.  We are quickly told all the wonderful things about this world- family, friends, beauty, etc. We are told we need to love this world because God made it.  This present world is awful!  And yes, many will agree to that too, all the while loving it. Is it confusing?  Of course it is, Satan loves to cause confusion. Satan wants us to say we hate this world, while our actions prove our love for it. Satan could careless about what we say as long as our heart is his.

Do you love this present world?

Do you want the pleasures of this world over the sacrifices of a contrite heart, and a broken spirit?

Psa_51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Again, people want to shout out that God doesn't want us to have broken spirits, or broken and contrite hearts. They'll say that Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted,  and I can't dispute that but I can say this--

Jesus said- Mat_5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus said- Mat_16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

DENY himself.

TAKE up his cross.

We are NOT to indulge ourselves and live our lives seeking ease over all. Yet we have been raised to believe this is our right- to live to please ourselves.

We need to make sure we do NOT love this present world as Demas did, choosing to leave God and God's truth, God's ways to indulge in his love of the world.

Please LORD, please help us NOT to choose the world over You! Keep us from EVIL, Father in Heaven, please, keep us from evil!