I Pray Not That He Takes Them Out Of This World

"I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world." John 17:15

It is a sweet and blessed event which will occur to all believers in God's own time—the going home to be

with Jesus. In a few more years the Lord's soldiers, who are now fighting "the good fight of faith" will have

done with conflict, and have entered into the joy of their Lord. But although Christ prays that His people

may eventually be with Him where He is, He does not ask that they may be taken at once away from this

world to heaven. He wishes them to stay here. Yet how frequently does the wearied pilgrim put up the

prayer, "O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest;" but Christ does not pray

like that, He leaves us in His Father's hands, until, like shocks of corn fully ripe, we shall each be gathered

into our Master's garner. Jesus does not plead for our instant removal by death, for to abide in the flesh is

needful for others if not profitable for ourselves. He asks that we may be kept from evil, but He never asks

for us to be admitted to the inheritance in glory till we are of full age. Christians often want to die when they

have any trouble. Ask them why, and they tell you, "Because we would be with the Lord." We fear it is not

so much because they are longing to be with the Lord, as because they desire to get rid of their troubles; else
they would feel the same wish to die at other times when not under the pressure of trial. They want to go

home, not so much for the Saviour's company, as to be at rest. Now it is quite right to desire to depart if we

can do it in the same spirit that Paul did, because to be with Christ is far better, but the wish to escape from

trouble is a selfish one. Rather let your care and wish be to glorify God by your life here as long as He,

even though it be in the midst of toil, and conflict, and suffering, and leave Him to say when "it is enough."

Morning and Evening.  "Enjoy  Your Coffee"   

Michael Stanley