There is much to be said about not loving the world. We all understand the concept and why it is important. Why is it then that we struggle so mightily to give up our desires for worldly pleasures? Right here, John lays out the enemy’s plan to trap us and entangle us: the lust of the eyes, the desires of the flesh, and the pride of life. We know that the enemy wants to tempt us with the things of this world, to make the world look agreeable, and to make wealth, possessions, and success look attractive. The lie we are tempted to believe is that what God has for us is not nearly as good as the things of this world.
It is necessary for us then to develop the self-awareness to notice when it is happening. If we think back to Jesus’ temptation in the desert, we see the same things John writes about. It is in this way we come to realize that the enemy is not creative or innovative. The same temptations that Jesus dealt with are the same things that are happening today. It is in those moments of temptation that we have to turn our eyes upon Jesus, knowing that those things are not from the Father.
Praise be to God that we have a savior who has walked this life before us and knows all its temptations. And now he stands offering us something more.