Resources/Articles
Jesus Is Not A Detour
Jesus prayed to God for His apostles that they may be given help to survive the attacks of Satan in the world. He did not ask God to take them out of the world, but keep them there and protect them (John 17:15). He prayed for God to let them live “in the world” (John 17:11) but not be “of the world” (John 17:14).
The world is the Christian’s place of work. Christianity was never meant to be lived in a cave nor a detour around the world. Since you cannot leave the world, Christ leads you through the world, not to soak up its carnal values, but to impact it with a life of sobriety, righteousness, and godliness (Titus 2:11,12). If you have ever wondered how you can leave a “mark” on the world, this is how you do it.
The more reverence you show God while you live in the world, the greater the quality of your purpose here on earth. That is why you need to see the world through the eyes of God. This world is His creation, and you are part of that creation. God did not plan for you to isolate yourself from the world, but live in it for Him and by His word (John 17:17). That is the whole idea of sanctification. Sanctification means “set apart”. It does not mean physical separation. It is a separation from any use of yourself other than for the Lord’s sake. Will you not do that for God? J
