Help Us To Love Only You

September 19

“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. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever,” I John 2:15-17.

Mankind cannot have two loves. Man cannot love the things of time and still embrace the things of God with a full heart. The temptations that draw men are alluring or they would be no temptation at all. It is difficult for anyone to turn his back of the worldly advantages that come with wealth and power and prestige. It takes godly perception and a Heavenly outlook to keep ones focus on the eternal when the trappings of the world beckon with such temerity.

Yet man knows that anything he attains of the good life that the world flaunts before him is fleeting. All the things that seem to make this sojourn most attractive are in reality burdens that a man bears; they are encumbrances that hold him back from walking in the light and power of Christ.

Revelation 16:15 says, “"Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches…” As a thief does not announce beforehand that he will break in and steal, neither will the Lord give prior warning to us of His soon return. Oh, we may see evidence that suggests His arrival is near, but unless we’re looking for Him, even those signs will be ignored as we pursue the allurements of time.

Our focus will be on what preoccupies us. If we care about the things that are eternal, we will “watch and pray so you don’t fall into temptation,” even as the Lord Himself admonishes in Matthew 26:41; however, if we are preoccupied with our pursuit of the tantalizing possessions of time we will succumb to the temptation of them; they will ensnare us and we will be focused on them rather than on the things of the heavenly realm.

We will be among the lost when Jesus returns because, like Lot’s wife (see Genesis 19:15-26) we will look to the things of time rather than to the things of Heaven. Like Lot’s wife, we will care nothing for our opportunity to escape the wrath of God but care only for the lost pleasures the world of sin affords to us.

Lord Jesus, help us to love only You. Help us to hold the things of time with a loose grip so we can be ever-willing to let them go. Help us to hold fast to You forever, for only You can keep us through this life and assure to us life eternal.