God’s Will Lasts Forever
Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:15-17
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
The will of God is found in God’s law. Whoever does the will of God keeps the law of God. This passage written by Jesus’ disciple John ties keeping the law of God to gaining life everlasting. This provides great comfort for all who keep God’s law.
It is interesting that John contrasts love for the world with love for God. One passes away, but the other goes on forever. We foolishly desire the passing things that the world offers instead of the everlasting will of God. The will of God extends beyond this temporal world. A missionary who was later martyred summed it up well: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose.”
So if you are pursuing the world and its desires—success in business, a glowing reputation, sexual satisfaction, power, and so on—be warned, they will all pass away.
But the person who does the will of God will live forever. God’s law, which tells us to love him and our neighbor, is his everlasting will. It carries forward into the next world.
If we need motivation for keeping the law of God, there is no motivation greater than this. Do you desire life everlasting? Then do the will of God and live forever.
God, we wish to live forever with you. Thank you for making that possible by sending Jesus, who did your will perfectly. Help us to turn away from worldly desires, and bring us into everlasting life. Amen.
About the author — Kent Van Til
Kent Van Til was a missionary in Costa Rica. He taught theological ethics both there and in the USA. He is the author of four books. The most recent is a spiritual biography of his grandmother entitled, "A Name for Herself: A Dutch Immigrant's Story." Kent likes to fish, hunt, make music, and entertain his grandchildren.
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