The Stars Dimly Seen

We had a couple clear nights this week, and even though it was cold out, I thought I'd take a look. I knew the moon was bright, still, I was not prepared for the effect snow on the ground had on my ability to see the stars. I could have counted them.

Moon on Snow image from Flickr

This calls to mind how the shiny things of this life hinder our ability to see God. The Apostle John wrote, "Do not love the world or anything in the world."

Why did he say that? Because, "If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."

Whoa, things in the world can distract us from loving our Father?

John continued, "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world."

These things—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—make up the world's system. Sex, food, comfort, and pleasure are good gifts from God, but lust drives us to make those things our focus. That lust is not a gift from God.

The lust of the eyes is covetousness—wanting to own whatever we see. One to watch out for at this gift-giving time of year!

The pride of life is making it our goal to be recognized, appreciated, admired, desired (sexually), or otherwise to attain power over others. We worship the god of self.

Moonlight on the snow is beautiful, but it is temporary. The snow will melt away and the stars again shine, just as, "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."

Scripture quoted from 1 John 2: 15-17.