“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into he world.”
(John 17: 15-18 ESV).

In His final prayer for the disciples as He was on His way to the cross, Jesus prayed that they(and we) would live with the consciousness that they no longer really belonged to this world. In other words, it wouldn’t feel like home to them anymore. And though they still lived in this world, they would be different from this world! They would no longer find pleasure in the dark things they once enjoyed!

The indwelling work of the Holy Spirit would make them (and us) a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). And the Power of the Holy Spirit would transfer them out of the kingdom of darkness into the the Kingdom of God (Col. 1:13). Because of this transformation they (and we) would be “hated” by the world just as Jesus is hated by the world. (Luke 21:17, John 17:14). The fact that they would be hated was evidence that they (and we) truly belonged to Him!

They (and we) were to live with the understanding that it is not the plan of the Savior to take them out of this world but for them to remain in this world in order to be His light in this world (Math. 5:14-16). As they sought to live in His light and to reflect His light, the Word of God would become precious unto them. Living according to His Word would definitely set them (and us) apart from the rest of the world (John 17: 17). Such living would be considered strange and radical by the world.

The prayer of the Savior is that they (and we) would be delivered from the assaults of the evil one as they continued to live in this world. The adversary would seek to distract them, divert them into different directions, discourage them, and destroy every effort they made in trying to following Him (John 17:15)!

The prayer of the Savior is that they (and we) would realize that they were on an assigned mission to go wherever He would lead them in this world so that others might know that He loves them just as much as He loves us! (John 17:18). And the day would come when He would bring them (and us) home to be with Him in eternity (John 14:3, John 17:24). Such living transcends everything that this world has to offer!

My, what a wonderful way to live!

Rev. James W. Black