Focus: The Rat Race

Text: 1Joh.2:16,17

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the FLESH, and the lust of the EYES, and the PRIDE of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

The Apostle John exposes the world's system for what it is. He takes the lid off and lets us see what the whole craziness in the world is all about.

*It is about "lust of the flesh" - the appetite.

Jesus says that "the flesh profiteth nothing" (Jh.6:63). Paul says, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing…" (Rom.7:18). He says that "they that are in the flesh cannot please God," and then he instructs the believer to "make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Rom.8:8; 13:14). The things of the flesh first fascinate, and then assassinate. They are appealing to our sense of appetite, but also appalling in their end result. Fleshly appetite is deadly. The flesh loves to indulge and satisfy self, but the soul is ruined in the process.

*It is about "lust of the eyes" - the appearance.

The world thrives on things that appeal to the eyes - fascinating things, fantastic things, fanciful things, alluring things, captivating things, fashionable things, visible and tangible things - even fantasies or things that tickle our fancy. Lust promises more than it can deliver.

*It is about the "pride of life" - the arrogance.

This is the arrogance that results from the deceitfulness of riches. It's about pursuits, position and possessions. It is simply braggadocio that is founded on vanity, for John also says "the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1Jh.2:17). This entire evil system is passing away. It is never built to last. Paul also maintains that "the fashion of this world passeth away" (1Cor.7:31). 

This world system is nothing but a facade, a scam, a crazy rat race.

This year, make up your mind not to be part of the rat race, for as they say, even if you win, you'll still remain a rat.

Let us accept the conclusion reached by Solomon in his feasibility study of life under the sun, which is that "vanity of vanities; all is vanity." Robert Short writes thus about our present-day plight, "The situation today is: lots of knowledge, but little understanding. Lots of means, but little meaning. Lots of know-how, but little know-why. Lots of sight, but little insight." Everything on the surface seems good and feels okay until you examine it with the lens of the Spirit. 

Whatever the pursuit you are engaged in, just make sure you do not lose what really matters, which is, "Christ in you - the hope of glory."

Don't be like that servant who said, "And as thy servant was BUSY HERE AND THERE, HE WAS GONE. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; THYSELF HAST DECIDED IT" (1Kgs.20:40). That is the rat race - pursuing, competing, and comparing, while ignoring or forgetting life's true essence. And it is important we know that every day we are deciding our destinies by our own actions - good or bad. Refuse to be part of the rat race, however attractive it may seem, and focus on running the race that is set before us by God - our race of faith in Jesus Christ.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter