1 Aug 2008
Do you realize that Jesus mentioned you in one of His prayers? In John 17, on the night before He would be crucified, we have recorded our Lord’s prayer for His disciples, and for “those who will believe in Me through their message…” (John 17:20). Yes, Jesus prayed for you and me, seeking the Father on our behalf. And what did He pray for His disciples (and for us)? “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” (John 17:15-16)
Obviously Jesus is not of this world. He is of Heaven. He is Divine. He is eternal. But notice what He is saying about us when we declare Him to be our Lord, when we pledge our allegiance to Him and His Kingdom—we too are identified as “not of the world!” Apparently our status and residence changes when we are “born again” and raised to new life in Christ. We now belong, as Jesus does, to Heaven.
But wait, you say, we still live here. We still have plenty of the world in us even after our confession and baptism. We may long for Heaven but our feet are firmly planted here in the dirt. What, then, does this mean for us? How can we be IN the world but not OF the world? I recently came across an illustration that may help us here. Consider a ship of any kind (however I prefer the old sailing ships for they are more historic, romantic and make for better art). So imagine with me that this ship represents our life and how we can be IN the world but not OF the world.
So if the ship is our Christian life, then the sea is the world. Obviously the ship is in the world (the water) while at the same time not of the world (the water). For only by maintaining its integrity as a sailing vessel can the ship navigate and travel. To be OF the world, you see, would be to take on the world, that is, take in water, and those results are obviously disastrous for both the ship and our life. But just as the ship travels through the water yet doesn’t take on water, so too in our Christian life we can (we must) navigate the “waters” of our culture without taking on that water. And just as the ship cannot fulfill its function as a seafaring vessel without getting out into the deep, neither can we fulfill our function as believers who have been commissioned by our Lord to “go into the world” with the Gospel of hope. Yes it’s dangerous out there, and yes there are storms and hidden reefs which would seek to sink us, but that’s where Jesus sends us, and that’s why He prayed for our protection and commitment.
But before we leave this illustration, there is one more thing to consider. When a ship has been battered or damaged, or just after being at sea for an extended period, it is time for the shelter and safety of the bay, or even to spend time in dry dock. This is the place to be repaired or refurbished, to get an overhaul or just routine maintenance. And just as every ship needs that time, so do we. Isn’t that why God has provided us those times of refuge where we seek Him in worship, prayer and reading scripture? Isn’t that what the fellowship of the Church is all about when we gather with other believers to be encouraged and strengthened in our spirit? God has provided for us to get out of the storm, out of the battle, in order to rest in Him. But notice this is temporary, for if the ship continued to stay in port or dry dock it is no longer in service, and if we stay isolated from the world (in “spiritual dry dock” if you will) then we are no longer IN the world. This is not the purpose to which God called us. Yes, we are not to be OF the world, but we are to be IN the world, so the Gospel can be seen and heard, starting with the original disciples, and continuing with us 2000 years later.
Because our Lord knew we would need it, He has given us the gifts of worship, prayer and meditating on His Word. But because He also knows He sends us out into the open waters. He prayed (and still prays?) for our well being and courage to take His Gospel to the world. So Christian, hoist your sails, catch the Spirit’s wind, and don’t take on any water!
Denis Whittet
|
