Yesterday we said it’s only when we are aligned under God’s truth which abides in us that we are able to “overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:14b). The next few verses spell out for us the problem of being distracted by the wicked one who seeks to devour us. “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.” (1 John 2:15-17)

John brings down specifics, reducing to that with which we actually come in contact, when he tells us not to love the world or the things of the world: “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” (v16). 

The lust of the flesh is seeking to satisfy God-given desires in our sinful nature (flesh) beyond what God intended. Our eyes symbolize that which pleases our minds and inner life. The lust of the eyes seeks exploring revelation outside of God’s truth. Both the lust of the flesh and eyes seeks to satisfy ourselves, beyond what God intended.

The pride of life is a desire within our flesh to awaken envy or adulation in other people. It seeks to create a sense of envy, rivalry, and burning jealousy in the hearts of others and gives us pleasure in doing this to them. It is the desire to outshine or to outrank someone else. John tells us not love these things; not to set our hearts on them; not to think of them as important; not to give ourselves to amassing things, to not love luxury and ease, and to not strive to outshine others  Because if we do, then “the love of the Father is not in [us]”. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21).

The wicked one seeks to devour us (1 Pet 5:8) by the lust of our flesh, eyes, and the pride of life. Jesus warns of these worldly lusts: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) The abundant life in Jesus will result in abiding with God forever. A life lived after the lust of flesh, eyes and pride of life will result in eternity with the enemy in the lake of fire. “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:15) Eternity is certain either way. The question is where we will spend eternity. The answer surely lies in what we treasure and have our heart set on, the Spirit or flesh.

Source: The Enemy Around by Ray Steadman