The corruption that is in the world through lust

“Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4.

What is the corruption that is in the world? What is the corruption in the home? What is the corruption among married people? What is the corruption in the church? Or what is the corruption in your own heart?

The corruption is self-love with its attendant greed, conceit, envy, backbiting and gossip, arguments and strife, plus all other misery. It is the corruption and ruin of righteousness, of peace, of joy, of the good relationship between people—between people who are out in the world, between married couples, between children and their parents, between members in the same church, and between believers in general.

And from where does all this corruption in the world in which we live come? From lust!

Peter said to those who desired to partake of divine nature: “Flee the corruption that is in the world through lust!”

A spark is immediately kindled in your inner man if you think that someone is taking advantage of you. It begins to burn in you; the course of nature is set on fire, and before you know it, it comes roaring out with your unruly tongue. This is how we have corruption in the house. James says that you have been set on fire by hell!

Flee corruption! This is not something that just happens among unbelievers in the world. Corruption is everywhere—if ever so little—wherever the lusts rule. Not just among unbelievers, but in the midst of your heart, in the midst of the family, and in the midst of the church.

Extinguish the spark before it sets the course of your nature on fire. Turn off the faucet before its water pours out and causes destruction. Curiosity leads to gossip, and all greed leads to envy. If you sow to the flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh all around you. You will reap corruption in the home, in the church, and in your own heart. You will reap what you sow!

Think of all the corruption! All the corruption comes from the lusts! Death to the flesh with its passions and desires!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24.) This will be shown by your life!