World Cup Fever

 World Cup????

A modern idol? 

Why would anyone who follows the Lord Jesus Christ want a "world cup"?  Scripture clearly warns us about the world, what it is and what it offers!

 

1 John 2.15-17 

15 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.
 16 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.
 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

Demas loved the world and turned away from serving the Lord with the apostle Paul (2 Tim. 4.10). Many other potential disciples have been lost to the world, enchanted by it, taken up with it, seeking  happiness and fulfilment in it. Are you one?

God says that the whole world lies in wickedness (1 Jn. 5.19). Not a pretty picture. Do you agree?

The world is a vain, deceitful, dangerous system, that is opposed to God. Like many other things, its beginning is found in the book of Genesis.

Cain was exiled by God after he murdered his brother Abel. Because the Hebrew root for "Nod" (nud) means "to wander." It was an area "on the east of Eden"  (Gen. 4.16). The term symbolizes a life of alienation, living apart from God's presence. 

In Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan aptly used Vanity Fair to illustrate the world. The world attempts to turn Christians away from Christ, and presumes to judge those who are faithful, but resents being judged.

William MacDonald defines the world (gr. kosmos) as "A system organized and headed by Satan, with the purpose of keeping humanity occupied and happy without God." Cain was used by the devil to start that system, a society without God, with industry, art, music, where violence and boasting and immortality are permitted.The world offers many things to keep people occupied and happy without God. Sports is one of them.

Which brings us back to the World Cup, and the vainglory of all the other sports competitions, leagues, championships and trophies.

In spite of all the hoopla, they're really unimportant in the greater scheme of things, but so typical of the world and the human lust for entertainment. The world emphasizes feelings and passing experience over spiritual reality, and the temporary over the eternal. One hundred years from now, what will it matter who won a trophy? "The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Pet. 3.10). That includes the world cups.

 Don't we have something better to do with our time, money and energy? In the words of C. T. Studd:

 "Only one life, 'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last."  

 

Jeremiah 9.23-24  comes to mind.  

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD".
 

It's better to know God than the world's sports "heroes" who do no lasting good for humanity, and will soon be forgotten. To know the Lord and walk with Him is better than anything this world can offer. 

His lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness are all made plain in the gospel. 

Lovingkindness

 God loved us all when we were His enemies (Rom. 5.6-10) and sent His Son to save us. His love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5.5). His mercies are new every morning!

 Judgment

We're all condemned because of our sins, and yet that divine judgment fell on Christ on the cross (Isa. 53.6). And Revelation tells us that judgment is coming upon this world. We're not tasked with entertaining, but with proclaiming the gospel and making disciples. 

Righteousness

No human being is righteous (Rom. 3.10). Righteousness is a divine attribute. The Righteous (just) one, who knew no sin, was made sin for us, so that we could be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5.21). "...The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Rom. 3.22). Not righteousness by works, nor by election, but "by faith of Jesus Christ". The world knows nothing about this!

The glory of Christ, the glory of His redeeming sacrifice and the salvation of sinners are forever. Sports trophies are nothing in eternity, but for the ages we'll sing the praises of the Lamb of God, and celebrate the triumphs of the Crucified!

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." 

Romans 12.2