The World

by G. Prasher, Maidstone | Category: Foes Of Our Faith | Apr 1970

Kosmos, a Greek word, primarily meaning, order, arrangement, ornament, adornment, is translated "world" many times in the New Testament. It is used to describe the material world or universe, "I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13.35). A reference to the human race, external to the Jewish nation is found in Romans 11.12, "Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?" In Mark 16.15 the Lord commanded His disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation". Here, as in John 3.16, the peoples of all the world, the human race, are in view. When speaking to Pilate the Lord said, "My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews" (John 18.36). In this instance the reference is to the present order of things - secular, religious, commercial, political. The Lord, in John 17, prayed for the men given Him by God out of the world. They had received and kept His word. He prayed for them, not for the world, that they might be kept from the evil one. He sent them back into the world to bear witness for Him. They were not of the world therefore the world hated them. The definite distinction between the world and the disciples of Christ is clearly marked in Scripture. John the apostle says, "For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not" (1 John 3.1). The world does not bow to the authority of Christ, and it does not acknowledge those who do. The children of God may expect to be despised and hated by the world. This was the treatment the Master received while on earth. It is verily true what is stated in the January article of this series, namely, "The term 'world' in this context describes a system of human affairs arranged to gratify the flesh".

"I will no more speak much with you", said the Lord, "for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in Me" (John 14.30). In this view we see the world as a principality, with a great prince at its head. This prince is the Devil, who is also called "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians

2.2). Under him are the powers, the world-rulers of this darkness, the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6.12). Satanic designs, policies of hell, and all schemes to destroy the work of God have their origin in him. The rulers of the world were under his influence when they crucified the Lord of glory. His intense hatred of the Son of God was displayed in the attitude of earth's rulers when it was truly said, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Luke 22.53). Until this prince is finally and eternally dealt with, he will, save for the years of the Millennium, continue his nefarious work as the roaring lion, and also as an angel of light in which guise he will deceive the many. Oh to be able to say truly, "We are not ignorant of his devices!"

When our Lord was tempted in the desert He refused to make bread from stones, though He was an hungered after fasting forty days. When He was shown the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, all that Satan displayed before His eyes failed to allure Him from allegiance to God. When the promise of divine protection was quoted from Scripture, He refused to tempt His God through casting Himself down from the pinnacle of the Temple. He was indeed the young Man who was strong, in whom the word of God was abiding, and He overcame the evil one by the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Our attitude to the world should be that of our Master. He was in the world but He was not of it. We are instructed:

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man l6ve the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the

lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2.15-17).

Our God is very jealous concerning His children. James writes, "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God. Or think ye that the scripture saith in vain, That Spirit which He made to dwell in us yearneth for us even unto jealous envy" (4.4,5 RVM).

The people of God are addressed as sojourners (temporary residents), and pilgrims (residents in a country which is not their own), and are exhorted unto seemly behaviour among the Gentiles (1 Pe4er 2.11,12). Pilgrims take no part in governing the country through which they are passing. The use the Lord's pilgrims make of the world is that of "not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away" (1 Corinthians 7.31 RVM). They have, of course, a message to tell of a great Redeemer "who gave Himself a Ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2.6), and of a house on earth wherein God dwells, a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2.5). Besides, they sing gladly of a "land that is fairer than day" to which they are hastening; but it is not for them to stoop and take part in the ways of the world.

There are in the Scriptures many warning beacons for pilgrims and sojourners. Let us draw attention to two of these. Samson was a Nazirite from his birth, that is, one consecrated unto God. He was called to serve as a Judge in Israel. However, he failed sadly to maintain his separation unto God. His unshorn locks of hair bespoke obedience to divine commands, and herein lay his great strength. Alas! he loved a woman of the enemies of the LORD. She succeeded in having the precious locks of hair cut off. When these were gone his strength was gone, so he lost his power, his liberty, his two eyes, and last of all he lost his life.

Demas was an outstanding disciple of the Lord. His devotion and loyalty were noted by Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles. He rose to be a companion and fellow-worker with the man whose life was being poured out as a drink offering unto God. Time wore on, and love for his Saviour began to wane. Interest in the furtherance of the work of the Lord was lost, and one day he said goodbye to Paul, who lay a prisoner of Christ Jesus in Rome. He went off to Thessalonica. Why? Paul gives the reason, "Demas forsook me, having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4.10). To avoid a murky sunset the sojourner must heed the command, "Keep thy heart above all that thou guardest; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4.23 RVM). Then of him it will be true, "The path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4.18 RVM). One has written,

"Nay world I turn away,

Though thou seem fair and good,

That friendly outstretched hand of thine

Is stained with Jesus' blood.

If in thy least device

I stoop to take a part,

All unawares thine influence steals

God's presence from my heart".

G. Prasher, Maidstone | Apr 1970
Foes Of Our Faith