Not at Home Here

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

NOT AT HOME HERE

John 17:13-19

13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

NIV

Continuing with this prayer of Jesus, he now turns to the concept of being in the world but not of the world. We know that he never was actually a part of the world as he created it in the first place. But he is speaking more of the point of reference with which he is currently in the world in bodily form, doing what people do as they live, but his mind and heart are focused on the things of heaven. He prays that same type of concept for his disciples, in fact, he says that they are not of the world anymore. He is surely setting the tone for the rest of their life while they are still in the world. That is the tone he sets for our lives as well. We will be going to the Father someday as well, and we say this to people so they can have the full measure of our joy about going to be with God. Sometimes it appears we believers sent mixed messages about having such joy about going to the Father. We say we love the Lord, and we are going to heaven when we die, but we spend as much effort as possible to delay our departure from this world. We are not of this world, just as Jesus was not part of this world. Jesus prays that the Father would not take them out of it, but protect them from the evil one. We are protected as well from the evil one, in fact, God provides us with his armor so we will have all his protection. Because we have been sanctified by God, set apart, made holy, we no longer focus on the world or the things of the world, but we focus, we have our center on heaven. This is our home, we are just passing through this world. Why do we want to accumulate so much of the world’s things? Why do we still find enjoyment in stuff? Why do we put so much importance on achieving success, or making our mark, or storing up wealth for ourselves? Why should all those things be so important to us, if we are not of this world anymore, and our desire is to be with God? Why do we consider all our “stuff” as a blessing from God? The fact that he has sanctified us made us holy and has given us his word, and his promise, sending the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, to seal us, to be our guarantee that we are going to the Father someday should be our greatest joy. This is what gives us peace, contentment, and reason to live our life fully for his pleasure and purpose. We have been sanctified by his truth, his word and we are no longer of this world. We walk around here, but this world is not our home, we are just passing through, our treasures are laid up beyond the blue. The angels beckon us from heavens open door, and we cannot feel at home in this world anymore.