What Does John 17:15-17 Mean?

September 22, 2009


John 17:15-17 reads as follows:

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

These verses speak to the Christian’s position in the world today. God never intended to remove us from in  the world, but to protect while we are in the world. Because our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20-21), we will never feel completely at home in the world. And if we do feel at home here, that’s not a good sign.

We were made for heaven.

That means we are “resident aliens” in the world, strangers and pilgrims, citizens of heaven temporarily living on the earth. Contrary to what the Jehovah’s Witnesses say, these verses form a powerful argument for the reality of heaven. God never intended that we live on this earth forever. Our destiny is “with the Lord” (Philippians 1:21; 2 Corinthians 5:7-8).

Or we could say it another way. Since our destiny is the “New Earth” (see Revelation 21-22), we should never get too comfortable in the present earth because this world and all that is in it will one day pass away (1 John 2:17).

Do you have any thoughts or questions about this post?