The world surrounds us with lures that seek to pull us away from Christ and cause us to cling to the things we see. The world boasts in its longevity, distracts us with pleasure and prosperity, and invites us to join its parties. It all looks so attractive and we fear that we could miss out on the fun that everyone else is enjoying. But this perspective focuses only on the moment. The Scriptures draw our attention to the end of the matter. Although the world is alluring now, its demise is only a matter of time. God will replace the world’s pride in its longevity with a short and complete punishment. He will contrast the pleasures of the world by bringing plagues on the people who enjoy them. The world’s prosperity will end in poverty. The parties will pause. With this in mind, I’m reminded of Jim Elliot who said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Whatever joy, security, or notoriety the world’s system offers is momentary. Only God is eternal and only He can provide everlasting, abundant life. This is why the reality of the world’s demise ought to turn us away from its lures and toward holiness. Sure, we may stand out; they may call us odd. In the worst situations, we may suffer persecution or death because of our stand for truth. But we are playing a longer game than the mere seventy or eighty years we hope for on this planet. Life with God offers more glory, more pleasure, more prosperity, and a bigger party than we can imagine. In other words, we must pull away from the world and cling to Christ. And this isn’t a loss; it’s a gain, an unending gain. –Pastor Rory
9AM: 1 John 4:13-21–Loving Because God Loved Us
10AM: Pastor Rory–Fall & Lament, 2–Revelation 18:1-24 (sermon notes)
12PM: Church Picnic
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