"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you." John 15:19


The world and all its pleasures daily surround us, pulling and dragging us into its web. It is easy to be caught up in the glamor of the things of this world. But when you cross over the swamp of this world, the life on the other side is paradise. On this side there is joy and happiness knowing that you are God's child shielded and protected by his love.


Even with the hope of eternity with God and the love that he has thought us by his word, Christians, like Lot's wife are tempted to look back into the world. Somehow there is something that calls them to return to the lusts of the world. However, we are warned in 1 John 2:15 about loving this world, it reads, "do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
We cannot expect to love God if we are still in a love affair with this world and its pleasures.
He states even harsher words in James 4:4, "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." I love how God's word is precise and clear, not compromising or apologetic, we are enemies of God when we stray to the world.


Let's not fool ourselves or pretend to be who we are not. As Christians we have been tested and tried, and in some point in our journey to know what God expects of us we have dared to peer through the corner of our eyes at the pleasures of the world. We may even have tasted some of the spoils of sin presented at our feet, but God is not pleased with us when we venture from the teachings of his word to be with the devil. We cannot afford to be the enemy of God or who will we turn to on judgment day? Who will save our souls from damnation.


You see the things of the world are not of God. Let's examine what 1 john 2:16 states, "for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world." Everything that we often look to do and partake in is not of God, but is of the world.


We are truly pulled from the world when we surrender to God. Let's look at God word for the answer, in 1 John 5:4, we are told that, "for whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith." We are free from the world when we become God's child, but we must overcome the world first. If we have faith in him then we have the victory over this world.


We must change our outlook, putting the world behind us and looking beyond the clouds where God lives.