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“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world” (John 17:15)  

Every saint will go to be with Christ eventually. In a few more years, the Lord's soldiers, who are now fighting "the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12), will lay down their armor, and hear Christ say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:23). 

 Christ asked His Father to keep you “from the evil one” (John 17:15), but He wants you to stay here so you can be faithful over a few things. So why do we frequently hear saints pray, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” (Psalms 55:6)? Christ never prayed like that. He entrusted His future unconditionally to His Father. He knew He was on Earth to fulfill the Father’s will, not His own, to suffer in the flesh, for the sake of the ones God loves. 

 The Apostle Paul expressed something similar to what Christ said to His Father in the Garden: “If it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith” (Philippians 1:21-25). 

 It's 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 pleases, even though it means toil, conflict, and suffering, and leave Him to say when "it is enough."

 

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