LOVE THE LORD MORE THAN TEMPORARY PLEASURES
The Lord Jesus Christ gave up the pleasures of heaven, and was tempted with all earthly ways of pleasures like we are; but without sin in order to accomplish our salvation from sin.(Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 4:15; John 3:16). The Lord created us with ability to have pleasure. But ultimately the Lord made us to enjoy a loving relationship with us, wherein we love him eternally more than anything else, with all our hearts, souls and minds (Luke 10:27).
Jesus gave his life for us when we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). And he continues to give us many good things to enjoy and enhance our lives (Romans 8:32). Yet in a relationship wherein we love the Lord with all our hearts, it requires us to deny ourselves things of the world that are not of God–To take up our cross and follow the Lord (Luke 9:23). However, God would have us know that denying ourselves the ungodly things, and “ the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
SCRIPTURES SHOW HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LOVING PLEASURE MORE THAN THE LORD.
The Bible cautions against the ungodly temporary pleasurable things of the world. “The world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and a pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but from the world” (1 John 2:16). Many of the pleasurable things of the world lead away from God; and these things don’t last.
- King David, said to be a man after God’s own heart, was lured away from the Lord by his lust for another man’s wife, named Bathsheba. Exploiting his position as king, David pleasured himself in adultery with Bathsheba. After David found she was pregnant with his child, he had her husband killed. (2 Samuel 12:7-13).
- A prodigal son was attracted away from a loving Father and good home by a passion for pleasurable things of the world. He reached his bottom after wasting his inheritance on partying and riotous living. (Luke (5:11-24).
Yet, Lord God the Father, in his great love, forgave David and the prodigal after they repented of their sins and returned to the Lord. Nevertheless, it is not God’s will that we should continue to sin that his grace may abound (Romans 6:1-4). Still the Lord forgives all who repent and confess their sins (1 John 8-9).
TODAY’S CULTURE OF LUST AND PLEASURE ATTRACTS PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE LORD.
Overt sexuality and ungodly pleasures are often portrayed in ads, in movies and on TV. Lewd pictures and pornography are commonly displayed in the name of “Art”, which appeal to conscious and unconscious sexual instincts. Sex crimes like pedophilia, rape, sodomy and sexual enslavement appear frequently in our headlines. Drugs and alcohol are frequently shown as pleasurable substances. And there are other ungodly destructive “acts of the flesh” which the Bible states as being “obvious” (Galatians 5:16-21).
A special report on drug and alcohol addictions, death, and despair appeared in a Decision magazine of the Billy Evangelistic Association. It reported that Americans are dying in record numbers for what has been called “the diseases of despair”—drug addiction, alcoholism and suicide. The report says that it reflects a culture without Christ.
LOVING JESUS CHRIST MORE IS THE WAY TO OVERCOME UNGODLY PLEASURES AND DESTRUCTIVE ADDICTIONS.
- The Decision magazine reports that by finding Jesus Christ, many in despair have found healing, restoration and new life.
- The Lord said, I am the way the truth and the life—the only way to the God of eternal life (John 14:6).
Prayerfully seeking the Lord with all our heart, and being guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word enable us to follow and love the Lord more than worldly pleasures. (John 14:25-27).
THE LORD HAS PREPARED A PLACE OF ETERNAL HEAVENLY PLEASURE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM MORE THAN EARTHLY PLEASURES.
The Lord has gone to prepare a place in for those who overcome the world as he overcame the world (John 14:2). And “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—(1 Corinthians 2:9).
