The Passing World

The Passing World

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 2:17

It is traditional in Australia to hold an annual “show.”  It is a combination merchant market, county fair, and circus.  It affords country folk the opportunity to take the children someplace special, to catch up with seldom seen friends, and to generally have a holiday.  As a believer, when I walked around the show grounds, I thought of the statement by John in his first epistle ‘and the world is passing away.’  So much of the show had this temporal air about it.  What is of this world is brief and fleeting; the show only lasts for two or three days out of the year. Then it is gone. This world is here now, but according to the Scriptures, it will not be here forever.

Another very noticeable thing about the show is that it is a place of great noise.  With the different rides each having a different tune; the loud speakers announcing the next events; the hawkers attempting to gain attention for their attractions; and the people all talking at once, it is well nigh impossible to hear yourself think, much less anything else.  How much like the world is that!  There is so much going on, calling out for our attention that we must “draw apart” in order to hear the “still, small voice” of the Holy Spirit.

The show carries with it some very pricey experiences.  One ride lasting two or three minutes can cost as much as four dollars per person.  Again, this is much like the world, where we often pay a very high price for our experiences and where the return does not equal the expenditure.

As it is with the ‘show,’ this world affords us much to tempt our attentions.  But, for the Child of God, the beauties of the Glorious Christ lift our eyes to the things that are above.  Paul writes, ‘if ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.’  Our eyes are lifted to very throne of God.  Christ is eternal. His Kingdom is forever. When this passing world is done, Christ, His Kingdom, His Rulership, and His Way, shall continue for all eternity.  This world pales in comparison to Christ, and all that is His.  How delightful to be part of that which shall never pass away.

Our Gracious Master and our God,

lift our eyes and hearts today

to Christ and to things above

this passing world.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice