The world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.  1 John 2:17

In the early hours of the morning, I began to think about these words from John’s epistle. What did John mean by them? Reflecting on this question, I realized that God desires us to focus attention on everlasting values. In today’s text, the world’s passing values are contrasted with God’s eternal values. This world with its variety of desires is destined to perish, but those who do the will of God live forever.

How are things with me today? Am I eagerly looking to do God’s will, following the example of Christ, who said, “I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30)? Am I living according to God’s will? This is a key question for the Christian life.

Only Christ can save us from this world corrupted by sin and give us a new life here, as well as eternal life to come. The Holy Spirit provides us with the power to understand and to live according to God’s will. As Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2).