“… having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire,” says Peter in 2 Peter 1:4 (ESV).
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?
All this corruption is self-love, and it goes together with greed, pride, envy, gossip, arguing, and all other misery. It is the corruption and destruction of righteousness, of peace, of joy, of the good relationship between people – between people in the world, between married couples, between children and their parents, between members in the same church, and between believers in general.
And where does all this corruption comes from? It comes from sinful desire!
Peter said that if you want to share in godly nature, you should escape the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
If you feel that someone takes advantage of you, it immediately stirs up something in you. It lights a spark within you, it begins to burn within you, “setting on fire the entire course of life” as we read in James 3:6 (ESV). And before you know it, it bursts out in the words you speak. This is how the corruption comes in the house. You are set on fire by hell, says James.
Run far away from corruption! It is very close. It is not something that only happens among unbelievers. Corruption is everywhere where sinful desires rule - even if it is very little. Not just among unbelievers, but right in your own heart, in your family, and in the church.
Put out the spark before it sets your life on fire. Stop it before it spreads and destroys. 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 your home, in the church, and in your own heart. You will reap what you sow!
Think of all the corruption! All corruption comes from sinful desires! The flesh with its passions and desires must die!
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24 (ESV). This will show in your life!