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“THAT WHICH IS FORBIDDEN”
The soldiers on maneuvers were driving in their tent stakes after a long day’s march.
The sound of the hammering was broken by the penetrating voice of their commander:
"Don’t drive your stakes too deep, we’re moving on in the morning."
It is far too easy to drive our stakes down in this world. John spoke of that which is forbidden in 1 John 2:15,
“Do not love the world.” We are here warned to not set a high value on the world, namely, this evil world system,
not to consider it precious, thus, having a love for it. Such love is wrong and sinful. In 1 Peter 2:11, the people
of God are called “sojourners and pilgrims.” John Wesley wrote, “Sojourners: pilgrims. The first word properly
means those who are in a strange house; the second, those who are in a strange country. You ‘sojourn’ in the body;
you are ‘pilgrims’ in this world.”
While in prison, Paul sadly revealed, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).
Most remarkable is that Paul used the highest and most noble word for love in “having loved.” “Loved” is not just an
emotional attraction, but speaks of a definite decision and act. G. Campbell Morgan explains, “He was allured by what
the present age offered him, wealth, pleasure, liberty, as freedom from all restriction. Demas did not come to this
at once. No man ever does. He had listened to the voices around him, telling him of the apparent liberty of the age,
speaking to him of the foolishness of self-sacrifice and self-denial. Having listened to these voices, at last he
came to a decision. He fixed his love and affection upon the present age.”
Speaking of His followers, Christ said twice, “They are not of this world” (John 17:14 and 16).
So important was this to Him, that He says it twice in three verses! Romans 12:2 tells us we are not to “be conformed
to this world.” James 1:27 warns us to keep ourselves “unspotted from this world.” Ephesians 5:11 instructs that we
are to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.” Titus 2:12 says we are to “deny ungodliness and
worldly lusts.” Alexander McLaren said, “The measure of our discord with the world is the measure of our accord with
Christ.” Gyspy Smith said, “If you are in with God, you are at outs with this world.” Dr. G. Campbell Morgan said,
“The world hates Christian people, that is, if they see Christ in them. The measure in which the world agrees with us,
says we are really a fine type of Christian, and we are so entirely broad, is the measure of in which we are unlike
Christ.”
“If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
Dave Arnold, Pastor, Gulf Coast Worship Center , New Port Richey , Florida ,
34654
www.davidarnoldonline.org
Dave Arnold, Author, "Discipleship Manual."
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