"Do not love the world, nor 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 and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.  And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever."

John is describing the love of God for us.  He says that God's love is that which causes things to last forever.  In other words, what God loves does not fade away, because of the way God loves...

So, If I were to love a flower so much, that even after it died on earth the memory of it lasted forever - I could still smell its beauty, I could still feel its softness, always.  Then I would be loving like God loves.  God loves you so much that you will last forever.  He does not love lust that much.

So John is beseeching us to love the things God loves.  What should our attitude toward ourselves be?

If you seek righteousness - Remember what God loves.