“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
Deep down we know there’s more. When we were of the world we knew there was more to be known, experienced, possessed of this world. We were bothered by the thought we were missing out on what others were enjoying. We wanted it ALL. There was no end to the highway we were on. Just one more mile, one more journey of exploration, and we might find what we we were looking for.
The god of this world loves consuming men of the earth with a restless curiosity to discover what’s “out there.” He is a deceitful merchant who would have us sell our soul for fleeting treasure. He sought to seduce Jesus with the glory of what was in the world. “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them” (Matt. 4:8) But Jesus wouldn’t fall for Satan’s offer. He was after treasure that was not of this world, and told the devil where to go. “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matt. 4:10)
We have a choice: whose treasure will we seek? The god of this world always promises more. He wants to keep us tantalized by the prospect of what the world has in store for us. But the God of heaven also has more in store. He wants us to hunger and thirst for what He would give us. His Spirit wants to open our eyes to an eternal inheritance that is reserved in heaven for us.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Cor. 2:9,10)
Don’t let the God of this world seduce you as you walk through the wilderness of temptation. Let the barrenness of your surroundings cause you to hunger and thirst for the living God and the more abundant life He can give you. Receive even now a foretaste of the glory to come.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12)