Alright so let’s rip into this one. I’ve been circling 1 John 2:17 for weeks, honestly. Kept reading it: “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” Sounds simple, right? But what does that actually mean for stuff like paying bills or dealing with my annoying neighbor?
Starting Point: Total Confusion
First thing I did? Grabbed my coffee (strong, black) and stared at that verse. “The world and its desires pass away.” Okay, desires. What desires? My desire for a quieter morning? My desire for that new tool I saw online? World passing away… like, physically crumbling? Seemed huge and vague. Frustration level: high.
I knew I needed to break this beast down. My usual approach kicked in:
- Step 1: Read it slow. Like, word by word.
- Step 2: Look at what comes right before and after it. Context is king.
- Step 3: Wrestle with how it slaps me in the face right now.
Getting My Hands Dirty With Context
Flipped back to the start of 1 John 2. John was ranting hard about not loving the world or anything in it. Before verse 17, he specifically called out: cravings, lust, boasting. Ah-ha! So “desires” isn’t just like wanting ice cream. It’s that gnawing, gotta-have-it-now, selfish hunger for stuff, status, feeling superior.
Then he dropped the bomb: “The world is passing away.” Not just the physical planet eventually, but the whole system built on those cravings? Temporary. Flimsy. Like building a house on shifting sand.
The Punch in the Gut Moment
Okay, context helped. But the real work started when I shoved this thing into my Monday.
- That project at work I’m busting my tail on for recognition? Feels permanent. Worldly desire: craving status, approval. Reality? Project ends. Company might shift. It passes.
- Scrolling endlessly for stuff I don’t need? Lust of the eyes. John nailed it. That thing arrives? Thrill fades fast. It passes.
- Getting ticked off ’cause someone cut me off? Boasting in my own “rightness”? Passing away. That anger? Doesn’t last, but the damage it does might.
Suddenly “passing away” wasn’t some distant apocalypse. It was the constant flickering out of things I poured way too much energy into.
The Flip Side: What Actually Sticks
Then comes the counterpunch: “but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” Doing God’s will. Sounds heavy. But breaking it down everyday-style? It’s investing in what doesn’t fade:
- Choosing patience over road rage? That character shift lasts.
- Helping the neighbor instead of ignoring them? That connection matters eternally.
- Being honest when a lie would be easier? That integrity builds something real.
- Forgiving that idiot who messed up? Releases me from bitterness.
These aren’t grand gestures. They’re small, daily choices aligned with Love, Truth, Service. That’s the substance of God’s will. Those actions build something that death can’t even touch.
My Bottom Line Takeaway
So after wrestling this verse into the dirt, here’s my super practical take:
- See the fade: When I feel that greedy pull for stuff, status, or being “right”, I try to recognize it for what it is: Temporary fuel that’ll burn out fast.
- Pivot hard: Instead of pouring gas on that fading fire, what tiny thing can I do right here, right now that reflects God’s lasting character? Love? Kindness? Integrity? Even a small act done for Him builds eternal equity.
It’s a daily fight against the shiny, temporary stuff shouting at me. But knowing what’s really built to last? That changes everything about how I spend my time and heart. Simple? Maybe. Easy? Heck no. But man, it feels solid.
