You sometimes hear it said that as Christians we have three enemies—the world, the flesh and the Devil.

The Devil is the Devil. That’s pretty clear. No ambiguity there.

The “flesh” is a reference to the internal battle we experience with our own sin and temptation.

The “world” is perhaps less understood than the previous two enemies. Maybe that is because “the world” is used in a few different ways in the Bible. For example, we are told in John 3:16 that God so loved “the world” that he gave his one and only Son for it.

But there is another way in which the word is used. That’s when it refers to social and human systems which are opposed to God. 

In fact, you’ve probably used it in this way yourself. So-and-so is getting sucked into the ways of “the world.” In these situations, it’s a reference to a person being negatively influenced by social and human systems which are opposed to God. 

We see this articulated in 1 John 2:16: “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.”

In light of this, let me offer a warning against being naïve. There are many social and human forces in the world which are opposed to God. These forces are not neutral. If you gobble everything down without being discerning, you are eating out of the Devil’s hand.

The question I leave us with is this: Is the world changing us, or is Jesus using us to change the world?  

Let’s not be naïve about reality. Let’s have our eyes open. Let’s cooperate with God’s Spirit to be light and life in a world with so much darkness and death.

We’re already on the winning team. Let’s act like it.

Is the world changing us, or is Jesus using us to change the world?

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Notes:

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.