Worldly Desire

The danger of a disease lies in its seizure on the heart. Earthly things under the hand are a duty but in the heart a disease. The heart is Christ’s Royal fort, to which the devil, the world, and flesh lay siege; and if that be taken, all is gone. Earthly things are briars and thorns and therefore dangerous to come near the heart; the least prick at the heart is mortal. The heart is Christ’s nuptial bed, into which Christ retires; the world is the Saints servant. Now to admit a servant into the Lord’s bed is adulterous. The heart is God’s seat, Pavilion, and throne, into which none must come but himself.

Bartholomew Ashwood

The danger of a disease. If you knew you had a disease you would do all that you could to have it cured, or slow its process so it doesn’t take over your entire body, finally making its way to your heart. We know of many things that can likely cause disease, and this knowledge gives us opportunity to prevent disaster by avoiding these things. But sometimes we endure in the very things that will bring disease our way, and we just hope we are one of those who escape consequences.

In the same way there exists things that causes disease in our spiritual life. And those things are of this world. So much temporal pleasure can be found in the world and all it offers. We can become so wrapped up in the pursuit of satisfying these desires that we never notice the rot that begins to take over our heart. And not only does it take over, it becomes the teacher of our children and family. Teaching them in the ways of lusts, selfeshness and prosperity, finally leading to a searing of the conscience and a disease ridden heart.

The things of this world come at a great cost. It costs a man his time, it cost him his thoughts and in the end it can cost him his soul. We waste so much for worldly gain, strive with all our might to obtain it, and take great pains to keep it. And when we lose it or it’s taken from us, we grieve as if it were a family member who suddenly passed.

Let me first say that we all desire things, and since we live on this earth, those things are earthly. We all desire the means to feed our family which is a job and money, a reliable vehicle, and place we call home. These are things we need to help us in life. But these things can become the thorns and briars if our desire for them is misplaced.

The Bible is very clear on the worldly desires and it expressly condemns them and also gives us fair warning of the effects.

• 1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
• 1 Peter 2:10-11 “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
• Proverbs 11:28 The person who trusts in his wealth will fall, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
• Matthew 6:19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal”
• . 1 Timothy 6:9 “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”

The root of our desire must come from a heart for Christ, and Christ must be the desire we want most. Unlike the world Christ gives much and takes little. And if you have Christ then you have gained more than all the treasure that has ever existed in this world. When you have Christ, you have everything. Mark 8:36 says “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul”. The world can only be enjoyed for a short time, but the soul endures forever, and it will either rest with the Father or be tormented in Hell for eternity. Take care now, while you still have time, to desire the things from above. Desire Christ and the sanctification that further conforms to Him. Cast off the world and all of its trappings and throw yourself upon Jesus. He will supply your needs and change your desires.