What is Lust, and How can we Abide Forever?

"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 2:16-17

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.

Websters dictionary defines lust as "a passionate or overmastering desire or craving; to crave, hunger, covet, yearn." Many times we as humans hear "lust" and automatically think of something sexual. The truth is, though, that to lust after something is to unhealthily desire it above everything else--sometimes to the point of obsession. It is that unhealthy covetousness, that unhealthy hunger that leads us away from the Lord; it is that innate desire in our flesh that the enemy of our souls uses relentlessly to separate us from Christ. He even used the same tactics on the Lord to tempt Him when He went to the desert for 40 days:

First, the lust of the flesh: "The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." (Luke 4:3) Christ, being fully man and still fully God rebutted this temptation in verse 4 "Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' "

Second, the lust of the eyes: "And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours." (Luke 4:6-7) Again, the Lord answered him, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' "

Finally, the pride of life: "The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down from here. For it is written: '"He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." ' " (Luke 4:9-11) And Jesus answered his temptation again, " 'It says: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." ' "

These three categories represent the three areas in our lives where we are tempted. Every temptation we face falls into one of these three categories. And Christ walked through every temptation we face without sinning. Hebrews 2:17-18 tells us that "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

Every time Christ rebutted a temptation, he rebutted with scripture. Though he could have done anything he wanted to rebutt or withstand the devil, he chose to withstand by the Word. Why? Why didn't he simply command the devil to "get behind me." as he does later in Matthew 16:23? I believe he is demonstrating the most powerful way of keeping the enemy at bay...and what is that? Know the Word. Use the Word as a weapon; it is our sword. It is our only offensive weapon against attack. What Christ Jesus resisted, we must resist also, and in the same manner. Succombing or submitting to those temptations removes us from teh presence of the Lord...because sins and lusts are not of God, they are of the world.

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever

Here is that world "lust" again, giving us even more proof that lust is not of God. Every time it is used, it is used in a negative or worldly connotation. Therefore lust cannot be of God--because nothing of God is negative and the things of this world are not godly.

Let's look at this phrase "but he who does the will of God abides forever" and ask ourselves this question: what is the will of God? Individually it may vary. God may will Johnny to get married, and will Billy to remain single. But corporately or generally, God's will falls within the score of 3 criterion or precepts.

1. Love the Lord Deut 6:5 tells us that "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
2. Love one another. Matt 19:19 instructs us "honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
3. Make disciples Mark 16:15-18 instructs "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved ; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed : in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

It is God's will that we love Him, love one another, and bring others to Christ. That is the work of God. That is what will give us eternal life, what will allow us to abide forever. John 6:28-29 tells us what the work of God is, and it is so simple that it will blow your mind. "Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God ? Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

Friends, we aren't called to work our way into heaven. "Good works" are an impossibility outside of salvation through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not able, of our own volition or ability, to save ourselves or even protect ourselves from temptation. Jesus displayed this for us in his own temptation. He did not use His own power or ability which is much greater than our own. He used the Word of God to overcome the lusts of this world. And so must we, for to know the Word, to abide in the Word, and use it against the evil one is our only offensive weapon.

One day our struggle with lust will end and all we will have left is eternity--either in His presence or out of His presence. It is God's will that we abide with Him forever, and how do we do that? By doing His work. And what is His work: "Believe in Him whom He has sent."