1 John 2:15-16

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

(v15, NIV)

The instruction given here by John is plain and simple. Do not love the world or anything in the world. However, it is so easy to be taken in by the world or things in the world. The latest gadgets or the newest fad or whatever everyone seems to be into. Do not love these things. John isn't saying to you can't touch or use or see the things of the world. We are here on this earth living here for the time being. Do not love those things.

I picture someone who is addicted to smoking. Everyone knows they're bad for you. I think that the boxes are required by law to provide warnings on the labels about how bad cigarettes are for your health. So, this person I am picturing knows that they're bad for you. In this picture, the person's friend approaches him about quitting smoking, saying that he's addicted. The smoker quickly responds by saying, "I'm not addicted, I could quit anytime". However, when you grab his pack of cigarettes form his hand and toss them into the garbage, then you will see whether he truly is addicted to them or not. At that point you will see whether he truly loves cigarettes or not.

The result of loving the world or the things in the world is that the love of the father will not be in that person. So, how do we know that the love of the father is in us?

But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:

(v5, NIV)

Obeying his word results in God' love being truly made complete in us. Obey what he says and listen to what he says. Obey his word. We are to love God and have no idols before him. If you love something of the world, is God truly the one you love with all your heart? This love you speak of is not from God and is not of God.

For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

(v16, NIV)

There are these many dirty sinful things that come from the world. These things do not come from the father. How can you have love for this in you and still have love for the father? It does not make sense. God is light and in his is no darkness at all. How can his love be in you when there is such darkness in your heart?