August 17, 2020
Brothers and Sisters,
(John 7:7) The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
Here we see that Jesus made it clear that the world hated him because he exposed their evil works. The world does not necessarily hate us. It hates what we stand for. As Christians, we are supposed to stand for the truth of God’s word and this is what the world hates because the Word of God exposes their evil deeds.
The Bible says that a friend of the world is an enmity with God. (James 4:4) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Jesus also said that we can’t serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
So, clearly we can’t join hands with the world and be serving Jesus at the same time. Two cannot walk together except they be agreed. (Amos 3:3) Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a time in my life where there was a bigger contrast between the world and true Christianity. Maybe I’ve been naïve or been sheltered, but in recent days my eyes have been opened to the vast difference between what the world promotes and what I believe as a child of God. The differences between the two are staggering.
I just want to make it clear this morning that I’m not a friend of this world. We don’t agree on very much of anything. What the world represents and stands for is in direct opposition to everything I believe. I hope how soon all of God’s people will be taken out of this world and carried into that glorious city of God that has been prepared for us. I’ve read in the scriptures that we are not of this world, but only pilgrims and strangers passing through and I can certainly relate to that more today than at any other point in my life.
Let me encourage you this morning to not get entangled with this world. The Apostle Paul warns us against just that. (Galatians 5:1) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Peter also gives us a warning. (2 Peter 2:20) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. Here Peter is talking about someone who has escaped the grip of this world through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, but they only received a head knowledge and never received a transformation or salvation. Once they are again entangled with the world it is worse than before they learned anything about Jesus. So, it is extremely dangerous just to come to church enough to hear the truth and then turn away and go back out into the world.
This world is not your friend. The world will use you for all it can get out of you and then throw you to the side. The world doesn’t love you or care anything about you, but I can tell you that the Lord loves and cares for you. He said to cast all your cares upon him because he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Jesus said that he loves you and proved it by laying down his life on Calvary for you. (John 15:13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Instead of trying to appease the world why don’t we purpose in our hearts to be a friend to Jesus. He is the best friend anyone could ever have. He will never leave you nor forsake you no matter the circumstances and he will become the best friend you can ever have.
So, no matter what the world may think or say, we have a true friend in Jesus. Just like the old hymn says, “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS”.
Bro. Rick
