Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ~ James 1:27
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
~ Colossians 2:20-22
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ~ John 17: 6, 14, 9, 15, 16
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
~ 1 John 5:19-20
A Vexing Vanity, by Thomas Watson.
But deliver us from evil.
~ Matthew 6:13b
In this petition, we pray to be delivered from the evil world. He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned—in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live – Galatians 1:4.
It is an evil world, as it is a defiling world. The opinions and examples of the world are defiling. How easily are we hurried to sin, when we have the tide of natural corruption, and the wind of example to carry us. “You shall not follow a multitude to do evil.” Exodus 23:2. Bad examples are contagious. They mingled among the pagans—and adopted their evil customs – Psalm 106:35.
Living in the world, is like travelling on a dirty road. It requires a high degree of grace to keep ourselves unspotted by the world – James 1:27.
It is an evil world, as it is an ensnaring world.
The world is full of snares.
Company is a snare.
Recreation is a snare.
Riches are golden snares.
The apostle John speaks of the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – 1 John 2:16.
The lust of the flesh is beauty.
The lust of the eye is money.
The pride of life is honour.
These are the natural man’s trinity.
The world is a flattering enemy. Whom it kisses—it betrays. The world is a silken halter. The pleasures of the world, like opium, cast men into the sleep of carnal security. King Lysimachus sold his crown for a cup of water. Just so, many part with Heaven—for this poor world. They are enslaved with the world’s golden fetters. The world bewitched Demas – 2 Timothy 4:10. One of Christ’s own apostles was caught with a silver bait. It is hard to drink the wine of prosperity—and not be giddy. The world, through our innate corruption, is evil, as it is a snare.
It is an evil world, as it is a deadening world. It dulls and deadens the affections to heavenly objects. Earthly things choke the seed of the Word. A man entangled in the world is so taken up with secular concerns, that he can no more mind heavenly realities—than an elephant can fly in the air. And even such as have grace in them—when their affections are beslimed with earth, they find themselves much indisposed to meditation and prayer; it is like swimming with a heavy stone around the neck.
It is an evil world, as it is a deceitful world.
The world makes us believe that it will satisfy our desires—but it only increases them.
It is an evil world, as it is a vexing world. It is full of trouble.
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows – John 16:33.
Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward – Job 5:7.
How frail is humanity. How short is life, how full of trouble – Job 14:1.
One was of opinion that before the fall—the rose grew without prickles; but now every sweet flower of our life has its thorns. There are many things which cause trouble.
Some are troubled that they have no children—others that they have children.
If a man is poor—he is despised by the rich; if he is rich—he is envied by the poor.
The world is a vexing vanity. If we do not find an ensnaring world—we shall find it an afflicting world; it has more in it to trouble us than tempt us.
The world is a sea, where we are tossed upon the surging waves of sorrow, and often in danger of shipwreck.
The world is a wilderness, full of fiery serpents.
What great need then, have we to pray, Lord, deliver us from being hurt by this evil world.
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