I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one.
John 17:14-15 NET
What is the world? We can understand the world as synonymous with the earth, the planet we live on. But in the Scripture, the world more often describes a way of life that is at odds with God. It is a kingdom ruled over by Satan, the evil one. A kingdom that is at war with the kingdom of God.
There was a time when I had citizenship in the world. From the time I was born, I belonged to the world. And that is true of every single person on the earth throughout history. We probably did not think of Satan as our ruler. And we may have lived good and productive lives. But, by default, we are a part of the world, and our goals and desires are of the world (Eph. 2:1-3).
But when I came to faith in Christ, I died to this world and was born anew as a citizen of the kingdom of God. I am no longer of this world. However, as I wait to go home, I remain in the world as a foreigner (1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11).
As a citizen of God’s kingdom, I am called to be distinct from the world. And that often puts me at odds with the ways of this world and its people. And they may hate me for it.
Kept Safe While in the World
Jesus’ prayer for us in this passage is that we would be kept safe from the evil one, the world’s ruler, and those whose allegiance is to him. We may suffer and experience physical harm in this world. But we can trust that we will be safely brought into the home being prepared for us (John 14:1-4).
Why not be taken out of the world now? Because Jesus has sent us out into the world to bear witness to him and his love for the people of this world (John 17:18). While we are here, even as the world hates us, we should share with them the love of our Lord and God. Doing so in the hope that they might escape the fate that awaits this world and come into the glorious kingdom of our Lord and Savior.
