I’ve been thinking quite a bit about “The World” lately. 

Not the world as in planet earth; not meaning global affairs. Rather, The World as Scripture speaks of—The World it has some fairly strong words about. In fact, it was passages like these that really caught my attention:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. 1 John 2:15

Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

Those are stark warnings; almost offensive, if they weren't from the God who gave his life for us. What is he so upset about? 

I think we have a pretty good idea how dangerous the devil can be; and we are only too familiar with the trouble our “flesh” or sin nature can get us into. But...