A Passing World

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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15–17
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A Passing World
            Material wealth is much desired in our world today, this is not a new phenomenon. Ever since the Fall sinful humans have tried in vain to find comfort and security in any place other than God. We turn to the things of this world and seek understanding and love. We believe if we have enough money, our problems will go away. We believe if I have the right job anxiety will disappear. We think if only I could drive the right car, wear the latest clothes, or live in the right neighborhood then life would be perfect. But at the end of the day, these things are all just temporal and do nothing for our eternal lives. Whether you are buried in a marble tomb or a pauper's grave, you are still dead. No amount of things will change that fact. Yet there is something that does indeed give comfort and joy that lasts an eternity. Through His Word and Sacraments, God comes to us to unburden us from our sins and free us to live lives of loving and being loved. Christ’s death on the cross sets us free to recognize the material things in our lives as wonderful gifts from our God, but nothing compared to the gift of salvation, offered only through the blood of the Lamb. In a world that is passing away, we rest securely on the rock of salvation, Christ Jesus.