Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17  HCSB

I look at my life today and it is so different than it was 10 years ago.  My whole perspective has totally changed.  I must say that I am more content with my life than I have ever been.  Oh of course I have problems, who doesn’t?  But I know these problems won’t defeat me.

I have lost my dad and while that was very sad, I know he is waiting for me in heaven.  My mom has dementia and is getting up in years.  I don’t even want to think about her leaving me, but I thank God for the fact that she trained me to go to church and love the Lord.  I also know that when the Lord calls her home, she will be healed and happy and I will see her again.

Now you may wonder why I consider myself to be more content and at peace than I have ever been in my life.  Well, I’m glad you asked.  You see, on August 22, 2010, I had a come to Jesus experience.  I had spent most of my life trying to sit on the fence with one foot in the world and another foot in Christ.  The problem is, God is an all or nothing God.  He is a jealous God.  Exodus 34:14 tells us not to worship any other God for God is a jealous God.  The first of the Ten Commandments tells us that we are to have no other Gods before Him (Exodus 20:3)  For many years of my life, I put my own desires before God.

Our scripture passage for today tells us that the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes are of the world.  When you look at someone who is not your spouse and you lust after them, this is not from God my friend.  Matthew 5:28 tells us that anyone who even looks upon another with lust has committed adultery. Adultery is defined in the bible as sexual relations with anyone who is not your spouse. This is covered in the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14)   Our scripture passage also addresses the lust of the eyes.  We often see things and want things that other people have.  Our desire for these things can cause us to put these desires in front of God.  The tenth commandment is that you shall not covet anything your neighbor has (Exodus 20:17).  We are not to look at what others have and think, “Oh, I have to have that”.

Our scripture passage also tells us that we are to avoid the pride of life.  Often times when we have those things that others wish they had, we become prideful.  We begin to think that we are all that and a bag of chips (Galatians 6:3).  This is a slippery slope, my friend, God hates pride (Proverbs 8:13, James 4:6, Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 29:23).  There are more scripture passages that tell us how God hates pride, but I think you get the idea.

When my life was in turmoil, God made it abundantly clear to me that it would stay that way unless I gave it all to Him.  I could no longer warm a pew every few Sundays.  I could no longer pray only when I was in a jam.  I could no longer read my bible only when I was looking for comfort.  I had to give it all to him, the good, the bad, and the ugly. So, I did.  I gave it all to Him.  Now let me warn you that when I did this, he picked my life up and shook it up and held it upside down. At first I thought it was falling apart, but when I gave it all to Jesus, I realized He was just letting it fall into place.  It was kind of like when you put a pair of jeans in the washer.  He dumped all the bad stuff out and then cleaned what was left to make it look brand new.  Since I came to Jesus, I have had my share of troubles.  I have suffered persecution.  But I can still say that I am more content than I have ever been in my life.  This is because I am a soldier in God’s army.  This means that no matter what comes against me, I have an impenetrable shield around me (Psalm 91:1-16).  I will be victorious (Romans 8:37).  I am on the winning side (Psalm 108:13, Deuteronomy 20:4, 1 Corinthians 15:57)

So for these reasons, I am all in.  I have given it all to God and I continually do so with each new day.  I give it all to Him.  He has never left me, nor has he forsaken me, and I know He never will (Deuteronomy 31:6).  When I am too weak to stand, He will uphold me with His righteous hand (Isaiah 41:10).  He will give his angels orders to protect me (Psalm 91:11).  The world may look good to you, but know that as our scripture says, it is passing away.  With Jesus we have everlasting life in glory with God the Father.  This is why I am all in, just so you know.

Have a great day!