John 17:15-18 says “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
John 17 is an account of God the Son praying to God the Father. Jesus was praying specific prayers for Christians. His prayer was not to take the believers out of the world, but to keep them from the evil.
There is so much evil in this world. It seems so difficult to get away from the evil. For hundreds of years, there have been people groups that have separated themselves from the world. Their goal has been to keep themselves from the evil. That seems to be a noble ambition; however, that was never Christ’s desire. Let us look into verse 18. “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” Jesus was sent to save the world. In like fashion, there are men and women sent to this world to be a witness to the lost. It is the specific design of God for the world to receive the Gospel through the voices and labors of the saved. 1 Corinthians 1:21 says “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
Let us worry less about the evil, but focus more on our purpose. The lost souls need to hear about Jesus. As being a born again Christian, it is such an awesome privilege to have a job given by God. Think about the amazing wonder of being created, saved from our sins, and sent to this world to reach the lost. Why would God choose someone like me? Let us not forsake this opportunity, but seize it. Always remember that Jesus is not praying for us to be taken from this world, but sent to this world in order for souls to hear the Gospel. (By Matt Shold)
