Positively Good Productions
Sowinig blessings and life lessons to encourage, refresh, and benefit our lives.
We are journeying through a wicked, perverted, fallen and
troubled world with many treacherous entanglements,
perilous places, and corrupted foes seeking to destroy our
close fellowship with God.
Many have lost their spiritual direction, because of the
carnal choices they have made, and consequently they are
living a defeated life.
Some ignore God's Word and go their own way, which
brings them to the brink of despair, when they should have
been enjoying a victorious and spiritually satisfying life.
connected to God:
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is
desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
The point is that our hearts, dreams, desires, and wants are
marred by sin. This view may not be politically correct or
popular, but it is biblical and until we understand this we
will never truly be happy or satisfied. For all that is in the
world leads one from fad to fad, idol to idol, relationship
to relationship, and just leaves one broken, frustrated, and
alone.
To our youth, Satan sees you as easy prey. God defines
and designed you to be the special you that you are... God
values you, but the devil wants to distort it. He plants
terrible thoughts and suggestions such as:
God will not be faithful to you, and He will not keep His
promises. Your parents don't have a clue. They don't want
to see you happy. They just want to make your life
miserable. They did their thing, now you do your thing.
So, go ahead and try it. It's okay to drink, do your thing.
Stop being so uptight... get drunk and do drugs, just do it...
be you... you are just experimenting. There's no way you
can get hooked. Plus, everyone else is doing it. Live your
life. Sin will satisfy you, it won't harm you. These things
will help you to relax, find yourself, and fit in with the
crowd.
Go ahead and indulge in sexual immorality. If you are still
a virgin... there must be something wrong with you.
You're human... nothings going to happen to you if you
try it... you are just experimenting.
Satan wants us to have worldly fun.
He is out to harm us, undermine our
faith, and destroy us.
Satan contradicts the certainty of God's judgment. He
promises pleasure, but doesn't mention the pain. He
challenges the authority of God. He lies to us about God,
sin, and ourselves. He is the father and author of lies,
deception, accusations, temptation, divisiveness, and evil
doings. He speaks out of his own character and has
deceived millions. These and more are all consistent with
Satan's character.
Separating evil from our lives has become even more
essential since our homes are wired to bring much of what
the Lord has condemned into our own living rooms if we
are not vigilant.
We cannot allow the world's sewage to shape our minds
or contaminate our thoughts. We should be vigilant in
adverse circumstances and avoid potential danger that
compromises our decisions.
Young people, don’t allow the enemy to deceive you!
God’s plan for your life begins now and not just someday
down the road.
We live in a sin-sick world where humanity is plagued
with extreme indulgence in worldly pleasures, depravity,
suffering, and unrighteousness. The world seems to sweat
wickedness, evilness, fits of anger, division, strife,
dissension, enmity, jealousy, envy, idolatry, rivalries, and
highly unrighteous and immoral behavior from its pores.
Television, radio, news media outlets, print media, etc.,
are increasingly cluttered with tons of suggestive stage-
crafting... than most unsuspecting people realize. The
entertainment media is fostered by the cosmos. This
relentless stream of content overload makes it extremely
difficult to cut through and not get entangled in all of the
noise and folly.
glorified perversion that corrupts, distracts, and deceives
viewers, listeners, and readers. This is the world God
warns us about.
Worldly pressures come through Satan
in the form of sin and temptation.
Every person has struggled with temptation. Even walking
with God for many years does not eliminate or even
minimize the dangers of temptation.
In whatever sphere of life we discover ourselves to be in
and whatever task we are employed… let us never forget:
Satan’s desire is to steal, kill,
and destroy.
He uses temptation and sin to destroy Believers. Satan's
hostile world-system makes every attempt to put pressure
on us in every sphere of life in an effort to get us to
conform to the patterns of the world.
Believers will often find themselves faced with
tormenting, antagonistic, hostile, and contentious
circumstances from those who live and walk in Satan's
kingdom.
We live in a worldly culture that lacks self respect,
dignity, compassion, kindness, and love. Many
wandering souls have been influenced by the pleasures
and influences of the world. Some seem adrift
morally, spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. Some
may be lost to drugs, alcohol, greed, sexual promiscuity,
gambling, and have no regard or respect for human life.
Satan's job is to blind the minds of unbelievers, that they
might not see the light of God. Many unsuspecting
individuals are blindsided by Satan's Spiritual attacks.
Far too many have chosen to live in the world apart
from God and have grown hostile towards people and
God. Their only goals and ambitions in this life is to try
and gain as much of the material and lustful things out of
this life as they possibly can. They seem to purposely
entangle themselves in worldly pleasures and materialism
which are absolutely contrary to righteousness.
Those who are in the world and of the world stand
in opposition to the Kingdom of God. Their actions,
thoughts, and values are focused on pleasing self for
people and they are usually focusing on earthly, fleshly,
and temporal life activities, values, and/or plans as
opposed to heavenly, spiritual, and eternal activities,
values, and/or plans.
Unfortunately, some have knowingly allowed the culture’s
ungodly morals, values, attitudes, and behaviors to
infiltrate their lives... on every level. These worldly
pleasures have kept many apart from knowing God and
their true purpose in life.
Scripture speaks with absolute
authority…
it says because we’re in the world, we will have
tribulation, temptation, and pressure. It is an unavoidable
part of life in this world, but as Believers… we must never
compromise! We must be willing to fight on the
battlefield, in this corrupt world, each day to survive.
We are not slaves to our sinful natures, but act in
accordance with righteousness.
(Romans 6:6, 11)
We are told to…
put to death things that are of our sinful
natures and to flee from immorality.
(Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 5:16-
24; Ephesians 5:3-11)
The worldly person rejects God and seeks to live on
their own, independently from God. They reject God
as having any say over their life. They love things and
people who are of the world, and despise those who are
in the world, but choose not to be of the world.
The pride in one’s lifestyle is not from God, but is from
the world. The wicked, greedy, prideful world-system
chooses, either consciously or unconsciously, to function
without God.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life,
is not from the Father, but is from the world. 1John 2:16
In this age, in the hearts of many, the powers of evil, false
doctrine, corrupt morals, strife, contention, persecution,
greed, pride, opposition, competition, and fears abound
and leading many into a lost eternity.
There is an undercurrent in the cosmos... it runs against
and in contradiction to the Way and Will of God. These
currents are stirred and troubled by Satan. They are
intended to entrap and ensnare God's witnesses.
Jesus warns that a person may "gain the whole world" (the
material things of this passing age) yet lose life in the next
(Matthew 16:26 ; parallels Mark 8:36 ; Luke 9:25 ). Paul
expresses concern that believers may become so caught up
in the affairs of this world that they will experience undue
hardship in living for Christ (1Corinthians 7:29-35).
The present world is passing away even now (1John 2:17).
Living in this transient world, one must not love it
(2Timothy 4:10), become conformed to its ways
(Romans12:2), or fall in love with its godless "wisdom"
(1Corinthians 2:6 ; 3:18-19; James 3:15). Instead one
must live a godly life (Titus 2:12), avoiding the snares of
the "present evil age" from which Christ's death has set his
people free (Galatians 1:4).
We must stay awake and alert... increasing our awareness
of the various influences in our lives.
Jesus says that His kingdom is
“Not of this world.”
John 18:36
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me
before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world
would love its own; but because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world
hates you.
(John 15:18-19)
Jesus recognized that Satan has a kingdom.
His kingdom is this world.
1 John 5:19
Jesus meticulously called Satan a murderer from the
beginning. Jesus identified Satan as the criminal
mastermind behind the corrupt world we live in. He called
him “the ruler of this world.”
(John 12:31; 16:11)
In Matthew 10:16-22 God said that He was sending the
Kingdom people forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.
God has given us a strong and unequivocal command
concerning the world...
`
“Do not love the world."
As believers, we need to know clearly what is meant by
"The world" and who rules the world... so we can guard
ourselves from loving it and being deceived and distracted
by it.
The World, as it is used in the
Scriptures:
God created the world and all things therein. God
designed the world to be fruitful. God's creation includes
provision for all creation. (Psalm 104:10-22).
For God so loved the world and the world's inhabitants.
The Biblical concepts of world falls into five categories:
*The physical world, includes the whole universe, the
cosmos (John 1:9; Acts 17:24) or the creation (Romans
8:20).
*The human world, the inhabited earth created with
delight by God's wisdom. (Proverbs 8:27-31).
*The moral world, refers to the people of the world... in a
neutral sense... and the subclass of indifferent and hostile
people who reject God. God's Will and His Ways.
*The temporal world, the present world is temporary.
*The coming world:
Satan rules only this world ( John 12:31 ; 14:30 ; 16:11 ; 2
Corinthians 4:4 ), not the next one, while Jesus' kingdom
is "not of this world" ( John 18:36 ) but belongs to the
coming age.
The believer may look
forward to the new world, "a new heaven and a new earth,
the home of righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13 ; cf. Revelations
21:1-5).
The world-system, the mortal world,
the cosmos:
In general, the term world in the Scriptures refers to the
evil world-system that is controlled by Satan. It leads
many away from worshipping God. It is by nature apart
from and in opposition to God.
So, while we are commanded to love the people of the
world, we are to be wary of anything that competes with
God for our highest affections.
The world includes people indifferent or hostile to God,
the God-hostile environment generally, and in the widest
sense, corruption and evil summed up under the general
term "The world." The world rejects God and God's
ways.
Satan's world-system tries to pressure, influence, and
tempt Believers into compromising their faith in God. The
devil would love nothing more than to see a Believer
compromise under pressure and deviate from following
God's standards and instructions.
The world, with its spiritually dark and hostile system is
ruled by Satan, the god of this world. The world-system
does not acknowledge or have any consideration for God.
It was established by Satan and consists of those
philosophies and values that invariably effect the
character, development, and behavior of humanity. Satan’s
blatantly corrupt world-system perpetually influences the
human race to embrace the evil values and attitudes of this
world and live independently from God and God’s Word.
Before the flood nearly all the people of the world became
corrupt (Genesis 6:11). In Jesus' time the world hated Him
(John 7:7) and will hate His followers (John 15:18-19 ).
The world, ungodly people cannot accept God, because it
neither sees God or knows God. ( John 14:17)
Jesus refers to Satan as the present ruler of the world...
not Ruler of the world.
(John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11)
Satan, the god of "this age" is god of the unbelieving
world. He has blinded the minds of unbelievers with his
false philosophies which people are deceived by. The
unbeliever follows Satan's agenda.
Although Satan is currently god of this world... he is NOT
in control of this world.
Satan and the army of demons that he has at his disposal
can do nothing without God's permission. Throughout the
Scriptures there is one character mentioned who is said to
be the enemy of God and God's people. He is known as
Satan, Lucifer, the devil, the adversary.
He is currently the god of the world.
He is the one in Scripture who is called the “Evil one.”
Satan is also called the devil. He possesses abhorrent
qualities.
The Scriptures describe Satan as one who exists in the
invisible spirit realm. (Job 1:6)
Scripture tells us about Satan's vicious and ruthless
qualities as well as his evil actions. (Job 1:13-19; 2:7, 8;
2 Timothy 2:26)
Satan is referred to in Scripture as the accuser, the
slanderer, the adversary, the enemy, the father of lies, the
murderer, the wicked one, and the deceiver who leads
humanity astray by seducing humanity into the ways of
lies and sin.
Satan is also described as a malicious, hostile, evil-
intentioned, evil-minded, venomous, vindictive,
accuser and adversary who is opposed to God and man.
Was there always a Satan?
No!
Satan, Lucifer, was an archangel, one of the chief angels,
who, along with Michael and Gabriel, served at God’s
throne in heaven. He was created by God as beautiful,
wise, and perfect in his ways, and God withheld nothing
from him... he had it all.
Lucifer was blameless until unrighteousness was found in
him. He was not content in his position and turned away
from God. He did not remain true to God.
Feelings of pride and rivalry toward God
grew within this spirit creature.
His desire was for others to worship... him.
Lucifer became envious of God! Pride led to Satan's fall.
Satan became envious of God's authority over the
universe and desired to be God. He became jealous,
deceptive, rebellious, selfish, prideful, corrupt, a bore a
cancerous satanic spirit of discontent... he was the
personification of evil. Lucifer and a third of the angels
(Revelation 12:3–4) rebelled against God and attempted
to take the throne of God (Isaiah 14:13-14). Their attempts
to overthrow God failed... and as a result... Satan and his
troops were cast back down to the Earth (Isaiah 14:12).
Lucifer (Latin for “light-bringer” or “morning star”) was
cast out of heaven and became Satan (Hebrew for
“accuser” or “adversary”). He became the ruler of this
world and the prince of the power of the air (John 12:13;
2Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).
Satan still seeks to be worshipped and elevated above
God. He is currently designated as the prince of the
cosmos and greedily, pridefully, selfishly, and devilishly
heads the office God gave him, on earth. Satan has no
remorse for the evil he has done or is doing. Satan still
hates and opposes God and anyone who loves and follows
God.
Satan is an evil, lying, deceptive, rebellious thief who
hates and opposes God. However, in due season he will
be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur and be
tormented day and night forever and ever.
Revelation: 20:10
Ironically, Satan is still instrumental
in God’s plan.
Those who are in the world and of the world, living their
own way, are grossly influenced by Satan’s spirit of
selfishness. His influence encompasses worldly
philosophies, ideals, opinions, lies, deception, and evil.
The world is still living in rebellion to God’s way.
Satan is a manipulator, a deceiver, the god of this age, and
a master in sowing discord and hate.
He roams the earth seeking out
someone to attack.
We should never underestimate the influence that Satan
and his demons have. They are wicked and have
brought many good people down.
When the word "World" is used in the New Testament,
it's a translation of the Greek word cosmos. "Cosmos"
most often refers to the planet earth and its human
inhabitants.
The cosmos... “The world” is a vast order or system that
Satan has promoted which conforms to his patterns,
direction, and practices.
Satan is the Prince of this "Cosmos."
"The whole world is under the control of the evil one"
(1 John 5:19).
It is not unusual for Believers to encounter difficulties
by belligerent and worldly minded people who make it
their goal to pressure Believers into abandoning their
Biblical values and compromise with evil.
Do not be surprised that
the world hates you.
(1 John 3:13)
Those of us who follow a hated Savior cannot be surprised
when we encounter hatred, scorn, hostility, tormenting,
antagonistic, contentious circumstances. We who put our
faith in God must bear the cross of Jesus and expect to be
crucified... there are no exemptions.
The more we love and honor God, the more we expose
and unmask the evil of those who dishonor and reject
God. They will hate us because of who we love and
resemble. They hated Jesus and they will hate those who
are trying to be more like Jesus.
Satan is also called...
"The prince of the power of the air."
Ephesians 2:2.
This present evil cosmos, headed by Satan, makes it
difficult to find relevant and edifying messages that can
enhance and appeal to the heart, teach right from wrong,
and add value to our society. Satan employs every device
in his army to harass, hurt, divert, confuse, and tempt
God's people.
Think about it:🤔
Satan notoriously usurps our legitimate needs and
will have people consumed, distracted, and attracted
with his systemized sinful pleasures that ends up
hindering people from living for God and His purpose. We
only have to look around to see all the advertisements,
products, activities, and inventions vying to attract us.
We may need these things, but the world makes us
want more than we really need.
Let us be reminded:
Scripture warns us about being taken in by the evils of this
cosmos. We must come out from among them and not get
our worlds mixed up.
Satan is obsessed with diversions and exterminating God
and God's people. Satan's lies are cleverly mixed with
truth. He can be convincingly logical. He even had the
audacity to quote Scripture to Jesus. Satan tries to shape
every aspect of thought and behavior in such a way
that the corrupted man is exalted and God is ostracized
and rejected.
The world-system is mankind and society functioning
apart from God. The world-system is filled with spiritual
darkness and an underlying nature that permeates the
human race. It can influence, with its evil; yet, elementary
principles, every aspect of one’s thoughts and behaviors in
such a way that the morally corrupt and wicked nature of
man is made to appear increased/greater… while God is
purposely decreased and/or totally excluded.
Satan uses anything and everything as part of his system
to attract and occupy people. When anything takes over
our lives and causes us to exclude God... we have to
realize it has become the world to us.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let
God transform you into a new person by changing the way
you think. Then you will learn to know God’s Will for you,
which is good, pleasing and perfect.
(Romans12:2)
Let us be careful to understand that Satan’s world-system
entices and offers something for everyone who rejects
God, whether he is upright or evil, spiritual or hostile
towards God, well-informed or simple, affluent or poverty-
stricken. Satan is careful to make sure there’s even
something for the Believer in his world-system.
Those who are in the world and of the world stand
in opposition to the Kingdom of God. Their actions,
thoughts, and values are focused on pleasing self for
people and they are usually focusing on earthly, fleshly,
and temporal life activities, values, and/or plans as
opposed to heavenly, spiritual, and eternal activities,
values, and/or plans.
Let us be careful not to be taken
captive through Satan's philosophy
and empty deception.
We are wrestling against principalities, powers, the rulers
of the darkness and wickedness in the spiritual realm.
The devil is trying to pin us down to keep us from serving
God, by bringing temptation and tribulation against us. He
is trying to keep us from serving God wholeheartedly by
distracting us with the worries and cares of this world.
This is why the Bible repeatedly warns the believer not to
love the world or the things in the world.
We are to be set apart.
(Colossians 2:8; James 1:27; 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16).
We do not war according to the flesh. Scripture tells us
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of
this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in
the heavenly places.”
(Ephesians 6:12)
We are reminded to separate from the world. Avoid
the snares, allurements, and pretensions of this world.
To be "Not of the world" requires us to be free of
worldly influences. It means that we do not act as the
material world does.
Material possessions, money, fame, fortune, prominence,
drugs, sex, neediness of acceptance, approval, validation,
or applause from people may gain ground with people,
for a while, but Jesus taught that our focus should be away
from this world… and placed upon the things of God’s
kingdom... which have real value and will have no end.
Yes, our relationship with God is of much greater
value than any cravings for power, spotlights, partying,
playing, or superficial-worldly allurements.
The roots of a lotus are in the mud. The stem of the lotus
flower grows up through the water, and the fragrant
flower, which can be described as having a rich, warm,
and tropical forest smell, rises above the surface of the
water, where it can sunbathe in the sunlight.
This gorgeous, blooming flower emerges from the dirty,
murky, and muddy bottom of a pond, but still remains
untouched and unstained by the murky waters
surrounding it.
The lotus flowers pattern of growth symbolizes the
breakthrough of the soul from the primeval chaos of
materialism, through the waters of experience and
understanding, and into the light of wisdom, creativity,
knowledge, refinement, and edification.
The lotus flower grows from the mud and finds its way
through purifying waters to open up to the light.
The lotus flower is also seen as a metaphor for the human
who rises from the darkness of the world... striving
through the difficulties, and embracing a more godly way
of thinking and living.
Think about it:
Ships and boats are designed to drift, glide, hover, and sail
on top of the water... they were not designed to capsize
and sink. Even though they are enveloped by water on all
sides... an entire sea of water cannot sink a ship unless the
water gets inside the vessel. It is good for the vessel to be
in the water, but not a good thing if the water gets into the
vessel... it only takes a small entry for that issues to unfold.
The same holds true for us being in the world, but not of
the world. The wickedness of the world cannot pollute us
except that we allow it to get inside of us. We cannot
allow the world's ungodly morals, values, and bad
behavior to infiltrate our lives and cause us to capsize,
become fouled with grit and grime, be navigated by
wickedness and sink us to this dark world's level. Like the
ships and boats... they can be in the ocean, but they cannot
be a a part of it.
Some misinterpret what God is trying to tell them when
He says that we are not to be “of” the world. Some may
think they should be retreating from life and everyone in
general becoming a recluse... hiding away from as much
of the world as they possibly can.
Jesus is specifically telling us that we
are not to be “of the world.”
God wants us to remain unspotted
from the world... not becoming too
friendly or attached to the ways and
material things of this world.
Being “in” the world and not "of" the world also means
we can enjoy God's amazing creation, and not get caught
up in the mindset of what the world values. We are set
apart from the wickedness of the cosmos as we seek to
live a holy, righteous life. We are in the world, in contact
with the world; yet, we must retain our distinctive
Kingdom character... refusing to allow the Cosmos to trick
us into its corrupt and emptiness.
God wants us to become actively involved “in” the world
so that we can fully accomplish all of His perfect Will for
our lives. God desires that we walk in our calling, our
missions, our divine assignments.
Again, we cannot properly walk in our calling and
accomplish our divine assignments if we are not
willing to get actively involved “in” the world to some
degree and to some extent. Jesus Himself went full scale
into His surroundings. Jesus was constantly preaching,
teaching, healing and delivering people. He was in the
world, but did not allow the corrupt world to get in Him.
Jesus is telling His Father not to take us out of the world,
since we all have a great commission and call from Him
to share the Good News and help as many people as we
possibly can.
We cannot “reach” the lost, the downtrodden, the
helpless, the poor, the sinners, and the people who are
being held in some type of captivity if we are not “in” the
world trying to witness, teach, and reach them with the
Good News.
We live in a world of darkness, but we are not part of that
darkness.
"We are ambassadors for Christ"
(2 Corinthians 5:20),
spreading His fragrance (2Corinthians 2:15-16)
through the world.
Our hearts will be less interested in the things of the
world as we strive to be more like Jesus.
Separate from the world!
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove [them].
Ephesians 5:11
James 4:4 says,
“Don’t you know that friendship with the
world is enmity with God?”
God gave us a strong and unequivocal command
concerning the world in...
1John 2:15:
“Do not love this world nor the things
it offers you, for when you love the
world, you do not have the love
of the Father in you.”
Set your affection on things above, not
on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2
We are to stay “in” the world. We have a holy mission and
calling from God on what it is He wants us to accomplish
as we journey through this life.
Our number one goal in life should be to accomplish, to
the best of our abilities, God’s perfect will for our lives.
Our goal should be to serve God and do what He wants us
to do and not to chase after the world and all the material
wealth and possessions of this world, which will do
nothing but rot and perish the minute we leave and depart
from this life.
We have to keep all of our priorities straight, and our
number one priority should be to want to serve God and
accomplish His perfect will for our lives.
If we make that our number one goal and aspiration in this
life, then God will appropriately reward each one of us
in due season. And those rewards will far surpass and
exceed any of the material wealth and possessions that we
could have gained in this fallen world.
Scripture draws a clear distinction between friendship
with God and friendship with the world. James 4:4 tells us
that “Friendship with the world is hatred toward God.” He
goes on to say that “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of
the world becomes an enemy of God.” James uses the
strong words “hatred” and “enemy” to drive home the
point that we can be in the world or in the kingdom, but
not both because they are at opposite ends of the
spectrum.
Those who choose worldliness choose to live in the
enemy’s camp because all that is of the world is under
the control of Satan (1 John 5:19). He is the ruler of
this world, and when we choose the world, we enlist in his
evil army and become enemies of God.
The world-system lies in the power of the evil one. It is
the exact opposite of godliness. To steer clear of
worldliness, we must mature in the faith, growing
up in all things in Christ so that we are no longer
spiritual infants, tossed about by the lies and human
cunnings of the world (Ephesians 4:14-15).
We must come to know the difference between the
wisdom of God and the crafty human schemes of worldly
wisdom.
We can achieve this by carefully and diligently studying
of God's Word, seeking God’s wisdom in prayer (James
1:5), and fellowshipping with kindred spirits who speak
truth in love. Mature Believers will encourage us to reject
worldliness and embrace godliness.
Jesus says that those who believe in Him are no longer a
part of the world. Sin has no power over us, and we do not
have to be trapped by the corrupt precepts of the world.
As we shed the garment of the world we have peace not of
this world. Our peace in any situation comes straight from
the Lord, the Prince of Peace:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as
the world gives do I give to you"
(John 14:27).
We are still in this world but we
are no longer of it.
(John 17:14)
We are still surrounded by all the horrors and tragedies of
this life, but this is not our life (Philippians 3:8-14). The
knowledge that we are not of this world gives Believers
promise even in the darkest times (1 Peter 1:6-9); the
promise that this world of darkness and despair will pass.
God will wipe away every tear from our eyes; there will
be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
there be any more pain: for the former things are passed
away. How different it will be from the condition in the
world's system.
Overcoming the world-system can be a proving ground
for our faith. It can be the ideal soil for spreading the
seeds of the Good News... not to reform or remake the
world-system, not to hold it in contempt, but to proclaim
the Good News that God loves the world, He created.
Being in the world and not conforming to the world
enables us to secure... higher ground... for our highest
good.
So, when the Bible says that Satan is the "god of this
world," it is not saying that he has ultimate authority. It is
conveying the idea that Satan rules over the unbelieving
world in a specific way.
The phrase “god of this world” (or “god of this age”)
indicates that Satan is the major influence on the ideals,
opinions, goals, hopes and views of the majority of
people.
His influence also encompasses the world’s philosophies,
education, and commerce. The thoughts, ideas,
speculations and false religions of the world are under his
control and have sprung from his lies and deceptions.
This is not to say that he rules the world completely; God
is still sovereign. But it does mean that God, in His
infinite wisdom, has allowed Satan to operate in this
world within the boundaries God has set for him. When
the Bible says Satan has power over the world, we must
remember that God has given him domain over
unbelievers only. Believers are no longer under the rule of
Satan.
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