There is a command given to the believer in the Book of First John, which is a wonderful reminder of just how careful we must be regarding the world around us.
I John 2:15, 16
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [KJV]
So, we are told in these verses that the things in the world – the cravings of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the boastful arrogance of the earthly life are not of God but are strictly of the world. Then, we are told where all this is heading.
I John 2:17
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. [KJV]
The world is passing away – eventually, it will be no more – so all the effort spent on the things of the world will vanish with the world. In contrast, those who do the will of God will enjoy the blessings for eternity.
Paul the Apostle put it in the following way in Galatians,
Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. [KJV]
Paul said that he was excited about the accomplishments of Jesus Christ – this is what he wanted to boast about – as opposed to boasting about the arrogance of the earthly life. He goes on to further say that his boasting or glorying in the things of God produced an interesting result: the world was dead to him, and he was dead to the world. By this, he was not saying that he was now going just to sit down somewhere until he died – actually, it was quite the contrary.
When we accept Jesus as lord and believe that God has raised him from the dead, we are given a new life, we are a new creation in Christ and are encouraged to walk in this newness of life. One characteristic of that new life is that the old life and the world’s ways are no longer an attraction to us as they once were. The world and its passions are dead to us. And interestingly enough, we are dead to the world. We have no interest in the cravings and desires of the world, and the world has absolutely no interest in what we are about. The world is dead to us, and we are dead to the world.
Note the exhortation to all believers in the Book of Colossians:
Colossians 3:1, 2
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [KJV]
Our affection, our desires and our priorities are now focused on the things above and not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:3, 4
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. [ESV]
As far as the world is concerned – we are dead. Our real-life now resides in Christ and someday, he is going to come back to the earth, and we will be gathered together to appear with him in glory. Until that day – and no one knows when it will be except for God – we set our affection and thoughts on things above – and not on things on the earth. We are dead to the world, and the world is dead to us.