“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” - 1 John 2:15-17
There is a lot of talk in our day about “lifestyle” choices. Everyone is free to choose the lifestyle they want.
What they don’t tell you is that there are really only two choices: God’s way or the World’s way.
The World presents all the options of sin as though they represented freedom, while God’s way is disparaged as narrow-minded, judgmental and slavish.
If there were no consequences to our lifestyle choices, the World would be right; the way that each of us chooses to live wouldn’t matter. But there are consequences and each lifestyle leads to its own special end. “The World is passing away along with its desires but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Nature constantly reinforces the principle of cause and effect. Sin enslaves, and pursuing the pleasures that the World offers (Ooh! Shiny!) leads down the merry path to destruction with a side helping of pain and regret. A life lived God’s way will always lead to life and peace - and “Whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Make your choices. Live however you want. You are indeed free to choose your lifestyle. But don’t be deceived with the promise of no consequences, or bedazzled by the endless varieties of sin. There are really only two lifestyles: the World’s way and God’s way.
Lord, let the clear light of truth shine in my heart and enlighten my thinking. Deliver me from deception. Forgive the bad choices I’ve made and guide me by Your Word, for Jesus’s sake. Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles