The big battle of the Bible is the battle of idolatry.
That may seem like an overstatement, but consider for a moment: the trouble began in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve desired something else, instead of being content with all that God had for them, including himself. The battle continues through Israel's history: the golden calf at the exodus, the first three commandments relate to true worship vs. idolatry (as does the last), yet Israel quickly spurns God and his promise for the idols of the land. The OT concludes with prophet after prophet confronting the idolatry of the nations somewhat, but especially the idolatry of God's people.
In the Gospels, their religion itself had become the idol, and what should have so clearly pointed to Christ was chosen over Him. Nearly every epistle and the revelation specifically warns us against idolatry, with 1 John perhaps capturing the tension best of all. the book opens with an invitation to fellowship with God himself through confession and forgiveness, warns us in the middle about loving the world and its things, and the closing verse urges us to keep ourselves from idols.
Why? Do you have statues on your mantle, or do you bow before figurines? Probably not. But don't we, like those two in the Garden, look for some greater satisfaction or fulfillment in something else than in God himself, in Christ? The book of Hebrews, so long ago, seems to capture our contemporary conflict so well: Keep your life free from greed or materialism, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5.
We can be content because what we have is really more about Who has us. The ground of our contentment is Christ Himself.
the world to come meets the world that is
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Titus 2:11-14 ESV
God's grace has a lot to say about living in the present world while I wait for the world to come. I might prefer to just keep my head down and live by this world's rules as best I can until the next world comes, but grace calls for more. Instead of separating myself from the world, grace sends me out into it. It is interesting that the above verses are preceded and followed by instruction on how to live around others in ways that "adorn the gospel."
In Jeremiah chapter 29, God told his people to seek the peace and prosperity of the ungodly city of Babylon, which they found themselves in, while they waited for God's deliverance. What would that look like for us in our city or suburb? Does doing good display the gospel or get in the way of the gospel? Am I content to lay low, when God is saying, "Let's go!"
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