"Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world" (I John 2:15-16).

John clearly warns us to not love the world or the things in the world (I  John 2:15).  Why? We may not realize it, but our love and affection cannot go to the Father and the world at the same time.  We are in a temporal world  – which means it is temporary and subject to death and decay.  Our Heavenly Father is eternal and we have an eternal relationship and  fellowship with Him.  We have life choices to make.  We can be tempted at times and drawn away by our lusts and enticed (Jas. 1:14).  Also, James warns us that when these desires have conceived they give birth to sin, and when sin is full grown it brings forth death (Jas. 1:25).  We are encouraged to not be deceived in these things (Jas. 1:16).  John clearly lists the major lust areas that help us discern and measure which way we are headed in life.  We are either moving toward the lust of the world or the love of the Father (I John 2:16, above).  Our three (3) enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil.  Satan uses the world and the flesh to tempt us as He also did with Christ.

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:1). Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights and was hungry (Matt. 4:2). Satan came to the Last Adam – Christ, in the same manner as with the first Adam. Satan first appealed to Jesus with the lust of the flesh – the lust to do for yourself. Satan asked Jesus to turn rocks into bread, but Christ answered that man shall live by the Word of God (Matt. 4:3,4). Satan next appealed to Jesus with the pride of life – the lust to be somebody on your own. Satan asked Jesus to be the Son of God and throw Himself down off the pinnacle of the temple and let angels save Him. Christ answered that man should not tempt the Lord your God (Matt. 4:5-7). Then, Satan from a very high mountain showed Jesus all the kingdoms of this world and their glory. This was the lust of the eyes – the lust to have for your own power and glory (Matt. 4:8). Christ refused to bow down to Satan and worship him, saying that, "you shall only worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Matt. 4:9,10). Christ, did not fall to the temptation of Satan, and the devil left him (Matt. 4:11).