“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 forour instant removal by death, for to abide in the flesh is needful for othersif not profitable for ourselves. He asks that we may be kept from evil, butHe never asks for us to be admitted to the inheritance in glory till we are offull age. Christians often want to die when they have any trouble. Askthem why, and they tell you, “Because we would be with the Lord.” Wefear it is not so much because they are longing to be with the Lord, asbecause they desire to get rid of their troubles; else they would feel thesame wish to die at other times when not under the pressure of trial. Theywant 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 spiritthat Paul did, because to be with Christ is far better, but the wish toescape from trouble is a selfish one. Rather let your care and wish be toglorify God by your life here as long as He pleases, even though it be inthe midst of toil, and conflict, and suffering, and leave Him to say when “itis enough.”

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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen