John's famous challenge to his readers, "do not love the world or the
things in the world," is one of the great calls to turn from idolatry in
all the Bible. But without turning to something, it is an impossible
challenge. What we need, when departing from the "desires of the flesh,"
the "desires of the eyes," and the "boasting in life," is not the absence
of desire, but rather a new affection.