I must admit that I have recently become greatly disappointed in the church body’s response to COVID-19. Including my own response and the thoughts, I have had during this time. In my opinion, if this time of worldwide quarantine has done nothing else, it has definitely exposed the love for the world that still resides in so many of us.
This pandemic has done something that even our faith has not always been able to do. It has caused us to be completely removed from the outside world. It has given us the time to do all the things we often said we would do if we had more time. Such as pray more, spend more time reading the Bible, and making time for personal worship of God. Yet instead, we spend our time thinking, talking and complaining about our desire to return to the world.
Taking vacations, shopping, eating at restaurants, going to concerts, and similar activities are products of the world not of God. Christians should be able to take or leave these things, choosing instead to desire the things of God. It is our overwhelming desire to do these, honestly meaningless, things that show our deep-rooted love of the world. A love that is so dangerous and warned against in the Bible.
1 John 2:15–17 (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.
James 4:4 (ESV)
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Luke 9:23–25 (ESV)
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
It is not a sin for a Christian to have a right relationship with something like shopping or taking a vacation. But simply because something is not a sin does not mean it is good for us. Paul said this very thing and added that we cannot allow anything to control us.
1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV)
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
Yet it has become apparent as of late that many of us do not have the right relationship with such things. Social media was first filled will many people complaining about what they can’t do or saying what they missed doing. Now that the world has begun to reopen feeds are filled with just how thankful others are that they can shop, dine, and vacation once again. Christians, people who claim to be dedicated to God are posting online about how happy they are to return to the world.
What will we do in Heaven when these things that have our hearts on earth aren’t there? After the Earth and everything in it is destroyed in the last days? Will we miss them there as we have here? The truth is, if we continue to love the world as many of us currently do, as shown in recent times, we won’t find out. Because we will not find ourselves in the kingdom of Heaven, but in hell.
2 Peter 3:10 (ESV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
This article is as much for me as it is for anyone else. Over the last couple of months I have spent my fair share of time planning what we will do after this is all over. From the first restaurant to eat at all the way to a Florida vacation when travel opens up. Showing the secret love I have held for the things of this world through my actions. A love that could very well keep me from the salvation I so desperately seek if not kept in check.
I am so thankful that God has shown me the love of the world that has been hiding within me before it is too late. While there is still time to get my heart in check and pointed fully toward God. If you are like me and you too are starting to see the love you have of the world throughout COVID-19 and even before it struck there is good news. We serve a loving and compassionate master. He is merciful and always willing to forgive and restore us when we turn back to Him. Who will not hold the way we have been living with our hearts turned to the world against us.
Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 John 2:1–2 (ESV)
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
COVID-19 has brought this issue to the surface in so many of our lives and it must be addressed in the church. It’s hard to believe that the church body has such a love of the world. But it has become more apparent than ever by the actions of so many Christians during this time. We have been more separated from the things of the world than ever before and it has shown just how much we love them. This is a desire that as Christians we simply can’t have to live worthy of that title.
Just think over what you have desired in these last few months. Was it only the things of God and the missing sense of community? Or like so many did you lean more on the side of worldly things? See where your heart truly lies. Take the time while you still have it to put things in the right order. Set your mind and heart where they belong on things above. Not the meaningless things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Please help us spread this message to the rest of the church body. It’s important that other Christians are aware of the love so many hold for the things of this world. To help just share this article on your social media by clicking one of the social media icons below. Thank you for your support in this. God Bless!
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