John 17:15

HOLY KEEPING

‘I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.’

John 17:15

But why does Christ leave His people in the world at all? Why not at once remove them, and take them home? That is not God’s way.

I. Christ leaves His own in the world that they may be trained for Him.—Only on earth could they be prepared for heaven; for heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Only on earth could they learn their own weakness and the evil of their own hearts. Only on earth could they walk by faith; therefore earth must come before heaven, the bitter before the sweet, and that will make the sweet the sweeter.

II. Another reason why the Lord leaves His people in the world is, that they may be His witnesses.—What does the world care for the honour of Christ, or the word of Christ, or the love of Christ? ‘Ye shall be witnesses unto Me,’ the Lord Jesus still says to all who believe in Him.

III. Christ prays His Father to keep His people from the Evil One.—And I do not doubt that every true believer will be so ‘kept by the power of God.’ The Good Shepherd says of His people, ‘My sheep shall never perish.’ The strongest oak in the forest may be uprooted by the wind; but the ivy that clings to the rock, never. The weakest child that in its weakness clasps and cleaves to Christ is safe and strong; the giant who proudly walks alone will surely fall away. You may be a feeble folk like the conies; but if you make your home in the Rock of Ages no harm shall happen to you, for you shall be kept safe by the prayers of your Redeemer.

—Rev. F. Harper.

Illustration

‘ “Read me that chapter whereon my soul first cast anchor,” said John Knox on his dying bed. It was the seventeenth chapter of John. I do not wonder; for those Chapter s or texts which have helped us in difficulty, or comforted in sorrow, or cheered us in darkness, become very dear to us; they are staves on which we lean in weakness; we look on them like old friends.’