Incompatible

GETTING STARTED

In college, I remember being assigned to work on a sizable project with a classmate who insisted that we should split up the work and just meet at the library to merge our findings on a university computer the day before the project was due. So we worked separately for weeks and weeks, and on the day we had arranged, we both arrived at the library—only to find that we had a crisis. The school’s computers were completely incompatible with the software we had used to prepare our project. It was a disaster. In today’s passage, John discussed some actions and beliefs that are not compatible with a life lived in the light.

  • Is there anything in your life right now that is incompatible with what the Bible teaches will bring you true life and light?

READ THE WORD: 1 JOHN 2:15-24 (ESV)

15 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. 16 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. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Verse 16 says that the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life do not come from God but from the world. Think of a few things that could fall under the heading of each of those.
  2. What does verse 17 say that implies loving the things of the world is foolish? What will happen to those things?
  3. In verses 18-19 and again in 22-23, John gave characteristics of people, even those who mingle in Christian circles, who are against Christ, or—as John termed it—who are anti-Christ. What are a few of those characteristics?
  4. Think about how you spend your time, your money, your focus, and your energy. Would any of these areas indicate that you have a love for the world? Or that you are against Christ?

RESPOND TO GOD

Our world today is filled with people desperate for fulfillment. They look for it in sexual satisfaction, in beautiful possessions, and in things that make them feel superior to those around them. There are also people all around us who are searching to be satisfied by a spirituality that says one can reject Jesus and still be alright with God. But “things” are lies from the world; and love for the world is incompatible with love for the Father. I do not think many of us would say that we love the world or that we are against Christ, but we often prioritize our own wills above the will of the Father. And when we do, we exchange what is temporary for what is eternal—what is passing away for what will abide forever.

  • Ask God for the leadership of the Holy Spirit to give you insight about what your heart truly seeks.
  • Thank God that he has provided a way for eternal significance and ultimate fulfillment.