Love not the World by A. S. H.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 11, 1856

Love not the World.

By A. S. H.

STRONG and repeated inducements are held out in the word of God to lead his people to set their affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. "On things above" we may with safety bestow all of our affection. Yes, our affection may twine there with a fondness beyond the power of language to express, and the smiles of the Lord rest sweetly and constantly upon us still. But when our love falls back upon this poor dark and dreary earth and its objects, how soon we lose sight of the soul-inspiring promise of the holy Bible, and of heaven with all its joy.

Many reasons might be presented and urged why Christians should "love not the world." We will here present but a few. Let us then look back over the mouldering generations of the past, to the moment when the great Creator "saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." All was then lovely and fair.

Man was there surrounded with everything calculated to render life happy and desirable. The earth new from the hand of its Creator, was bathed with his own glory; for sin had not appeared to mar the handy work of God.

But, alas, soon the earth received her dreadful shock, by the fall of man! From that time forward upon this world and the things that are in the world, the blight of sin has rested too heavily to possess the affection of the people of God. There is nothing substantial here. All is passing. The brightest and fairest prospect of the worldling to day, may be his darkest, and most-to-be dreaded, to-morrow.

Again, our Master, our Leader, has declared, "My kingdom is not of this world." He had not where to lay his head. "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief."

Said Jesus, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John xv, 19. "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Chap. xvii, 14.

Let fallen churches talk of loving the world, and being loved of the world; but may the Lord help the remnant, who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus, to remember that "the friendship of the world is enmity with God; whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God." James iv, 4.

Let worldlings heap together treasures for the last days; but let those who love the appearing of the just One, lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; "For where your treasure is there will your heart be also."

If then our blessed Redeemer has chosen us out of the world, why should we, how can we, love the world? May the Lord in tender mercy forbid that our sensibility should be blunted, and our energies crippled in his service, and we make ourselves "the enemy of God," by loving this poor, fading, passing world, which is doomed to immediate destruction, with all the ungodly.

Again: Ye cannot serve God and mammon. I greatly fear that some who profess to be walking in the light of the Third Angel's Message are overcharging themselves with the cares of this life. I have looked upon the possessions of some, and to me they look more as though "My Lord delayeth his coming," than as though it is near, even at the doors. Brethren and sisters, are these things so? May the Lord help us to remember that our works as well as words are to preach. They tell powerfully for or against the truth! If the spirit of the world creeps into our hearts the Spirit of Jesus departs. O, grieve not that tender Spirit!

But John presents a reason sufficiently strong why we should love not the world: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John ii, 15. Mark the expression, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Many strong temptations, well calculated by the great deceiver to lead us in our affections away from the truth and the love of it, surround us; but by the grace of God assisting we can obtain the victory over the world and the flesh and the devil.

But if we would do this we must be awake; we must be active in the service of our heavenly Master. I do feel, and deeply feel, while I write on this point. We are doing our last work for this poor, perishing generation of men. The world seems to me much like a great cradle, in which the enemy of all righteousness is rocking its inhabitants to sleep. O, awake, ye lovers of our returning Lord! Set your affections on things above. And, Love not the world.

A. S. H. Princeton, Mass.