“True and Lasting Satisfaction”

“True and Lasting Satisfaction”

 

In the text found in 1

John 2:12-17 , the apostle John warns mature men and

young men of three lusts:

·      The

lust of the flesh ( Genesis 3:6 ;

cf. Joshua

7:21 – “saw that the tree was good for

food“) — the insatiable appetite to indulge in pleasures that inflame the flesh

but never satisfy (Numbers 11).

·      The

lust of the eyes ( Genesis 3:6 ;

cf. Joshua

7:21 ) – “it was pleasant to the eyes“) —

wandering eyes that continually want more riches

and possessions, but always remain covetous ( Acts

5:1-10 ).

·      The

pride of life ( Genesis 3:6 ;

cf. Joshua

7:21 ) – “a tree desirable to make one

wise“) — the vain mind that thirsts for man’s applause. But the glory

evaporates quickly ( Acts

12:20-23 ).

These three lusts are damaging to those

who engage in them as well as the victims they leave in their destructive path.

Additionally, these lustful desires can never fully satisfy , because

they are temporary ( Hebrews

11:24-25 ESV ).

True and lasting satisfaction, is found

only when we give our affections [mind] to spiritual and eternal things ( Colossians

3:1-4 ) — to a right relationship with our

heavenly Father ( 2

Corinthians 6:16-18 ) and with those He has created in His

image ( Genesis 1:26-27 ;

cf. Ecclesiastes 7:29 ;

Ephesians

4:24 ; James

3:9 ).

Let us remember that “The world is

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

forever” ( 1 John 2:17 ).