Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. (2 Timothy 4:9-10a)
We have heard the catch phrase, “Christians are in this world but not of it.” That is certainly true, but how difficult it is for the believer to consistently apply.
We appreciate the “wonderful” things of this world and many try to have one foot in the world and the other in their faith. In most times though this can only lead to apostasy as in the case that Paul relates concerning Demas.
And, no one really loves to be ridiculed, mocked or persecuted because of their Christian faith. But, that is exactly what the Bible says will happen to the true believer. However, we can joyfully make it through these trials with the knowledge of the eternal hope we have in Jesus!
