WHILE I WAS WITH THEM IN THE WORLD, i KEPT THEM IN THY NAME: THOSE THAT THOU GAVEST ME I HAVE KEPT, AND NONE OF THEM IS LOST, BUT THE SON OF PERDITION; THAT THE SCRIPTURE MIGHT BE FULFILLED. (13) AND NOW COME I TO THEE; AND THESE THINGS I SPEAK IN THE WORLD, THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE MY JOY FULFILLED IN THEMSELVES. (14) I HAVE GIVEN THEM THY WORD; AND THE WORLD HATH HATED THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, EVEN AS I AM NOT OF THIS WORLD. (15) I PRAY NOT THAT THOU SHOULDEST TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD, BUT THAT THOU SHOULDEST KEEP THEM FROM EVIL. (16) THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, EVEN AS I AM NOT OF THE WORLD. (17) SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH.

Before we get into all I’d like to say here, I’d like to share my thought about this chapter in God’s word. As I just wrote that sentence, I thought of just how many people will possibly disagree with me as I share my thoughts. However, I simply desire to create thought and allow God’s Spirit to do the rest.

I truly believe that this prayer we see here, prayed by Jesus Christ here in the gospel of John is the model prayer for each born again believer today. We are taught by many that the Lord’s Prayer we see in Matthew is the model prayer. But, while it is a very good prayer for the Nation of Israel, this prayer is a lot more inclusive as it relates to every person that is born again.

Now, I’m not saying the prayer we see in (Matthew 6:9-13) is not a good prayer but that it is more for the Nation of Israel than for any Gentile. This is just a side note; maybe not even relative to what I really desire to teach about the scripture I wrote. However, we might see to a great part that it all is very relative.

In the prayer we see in (John 17) Jesus uses two terms. (in the world) and (of the world). I’d like to take these two terms and teaches some things that I have had on my heart as it relates to me over the past few weeks. Just by way of sharing and keeping things in perspective, It’s about time for Christmas. 2023. In the next few weeks, I’m look at having a heart valve replaced and, this fact has caused me to consider some things about being (in this world) but, not (of this world).

Let’s consider something about me. I’m seventy-two years old. Now, let’s read this verse.

Psalm 90:10

THE DAYS OF OUR YEARS ARE THREESCORE AND TEN; AND IF BE BY REASON OF STRENGTH THEY BE FOURSCORE YEARS, YET IS THEIR STRENGTH LABOUR AND SORROW; FOR IT IS SOON CUT OFF, AND WE FLY AWAY.

The word score here refers to twenty years. That means that we are seeing seventy years here and, I’m already seventy-two. So, just how much longer do I want to stay here? Be not deceived, I’m just like any other man. My desire is to stay here, protect my wife, live for Jesus Christ and love my family. However, I realize I must leave at some point.

I personally believe that (this world) has gained the ability so to speak to look into a person and see death coming. Not only that but also to fix the part of man that might cause death to come.

This article is what I see as I sincerely prayed about getting this valve replaced. I’d like to share something with you that I have never forgotten. When I was about twenty-four years old, I had a great friend, he was actually more than just a friend, a mentor! He was, at that time, seventy-five. He had an aneurism next to his heart. They had told him that if something happened to it, even if he were on the operating table, they couldn’t save him. They told him that they could try and fix it but it would be risky. He agreed to try.

The night before the surgery was to take place his pastor came to visit him. He asked him if he went into that surgery and things didn’t go well was, he prepared for eternity? This is how my friend replied. He told him if he went into surgery and things went well, he would be going home. and, if not, he would be going home! My friend died on the operating table!

I simply tell you that true story to show how some knowledge relates to time as each of us move forward in our lives. At that time, he was seventy-five and I was twenty-four, a fifty-year difference in time. Now, I am almost seventy-five.

I’ll use that story to jumpstart my article. Since he passed away and, what he died of it’s a great possibility that today, some fifty years later doctors might be able to fix that problem with some degree of ease. I know that now it’s possible for me to get my heart valve fixed through my blood vessel where some years ago they would have to open my chest up.

As we consider these things, let’s consider the things (of this world). As we get into this, I’d like to show you a scripture in the Old Testament. (Genesis 4:16-24) I won’t write all this down but, if you read these verses, you will see that people of those days worked with iron, raised cattle, made and played musical instruments. They weren’t as backwards as we might think. However, I’d like for you to notice something about this. All this was in the family of Cain as in (of this world). If you will continue to read, we see in verse (25) Seth which is the seed that carried on the spiritual side of Adam and Eve.

You might ask, is this teaching that spiritual people can’t develop things to better this world? The answer is, no it’s not! However, it is making a very spiritual point. As far as our flesh is concerned, we are all (of this world). WE are born after the similitude of Adam, in the weakness of our flesh. It’s our choice whether we yield our flesh to the will of God or not.

Since the scripture we looked into mentioned an organ, let’s use that for an example. Isn’t it possible that Seth or one of his children purchased an organ to be used for God’s glory? Anything that is made by this world can be used for either Good or evil, that’s our choice. Even as born-again believers, in our flesh we can invent great things that can be used by this world to make all lives easier. How this world choses to use those things is choice.

Everything we see has been basically made by the hands of people of this world. While both evil and good men and women all have abilities granted to them by God, they can use it at their will. It’s actually a very simple way to see this. I live about five miles from the town I’m from. When I need to go to town, I get in my vehicle and drive to the place I desire to go. I don’t consider the spiritual mindset of who invented the automobile, I get in it and drive. I could say, well, that car might not be made by Godly hands and walk everywhere I go, but to me that would be very counterproductive. I’m now writing on a computer, made by man. I could write things in the form of a letter but, more than likely if you were able to get that letter you probably wouldn’t be able to read it because of my very bad handwriting. I don’t still live under the trees; I live in a house built by man.

This past year I’ve been sick with a sinus infection, covid, and a very bad flu-like cold. I took medicine and antibiotics made by man to help me through my time of sickness. My grandfather died in 1930 with pneumonia because they didn’t have anything at that time to help him, now they do and, most people will take that medicine and keep moving forward with their lives.

I’m going to share this story by way of example. In the Church I was born-again in there was a man that would often visit but wasn’t a member at the time. One Sunday morning as we were leaving Church, he handed our pastor some money, I don’t know how much. He told him that this was some of the money that he won betting on the race last night, I just wondered if you would take it knowing where it come from? Our pastor chuckled and replied well. it’s been in the hands of the devil long enough! By the way, can we also agree that money is made by man?

We can go on and on about the things made by man. Some years ago, we built a Church. One Sunday night as I stood behind the pulpit during a business meeting discussing what kind of pews to buy to be placed in our new Church, I raised my hand. I stopped the meeting and made this statement. Why do we need pews? I have to stand up the whole time during every service we have, can’t you all do the same? Of course, It was a chuckle by those in attendance and we came to an agreement on the pews.

Even our Churches are designed by man. WE don’t want to stand the whole service, we desire to sit on padded pews, we desire heat and air conditioning, all developed by man and, we don’t even ask whether they, the people were lost or saved. AS a matter of fact, the people that put these things in place can be lost and we still allow them to work on our building!

The truth is, we are ambassadors in this world. We use the things of this word for our benefit and enjoy the things we use. The phrase (of the world) actually has little to do with things but rather with worldly attitudes we might have. This is how I see even the process we go through even as far as if we live or die. The fact is, if I don’t get my heart valve replaced, I have a live expectancy of possibly two years. I’ve often said over the space of my life when we look at eternity, what does a few years madder one way or another? What is eighty years when compared to eternity?

The bottom line is folks, we’re all going to die at some point. However, how do you choose to live your life? This is my take on the whole issue, and I have shared this with my family and also pastor and Church members. Basically, since 1075 I’ve tried to give my life to Christ. I haven’t been perfect by any means, but I have sought to be a servant of Jesus Christ. In my situation and simply who I am, If I can’t spend the rest of my life serving him even beyond heart valve replacement then, I might as well die on the operating table. I don’t have any desire to live on this earth, in this world just to be part of this world.

I look at medicine, surgery procedures and things of that sort no differently than I do an automobile, an air condition, heat for our homes, homes or any other thing made by this world. God gifted men with the ability, knowledge to do very great things The people of this world from the beginning of time has made things to simplify their lives and to help use to have heathier bodies. As I’ve stated, all these things can be used for good or evil, even if we use medicine to extent our lives.

What if we look at a doctor’s or nurse’s life? I’ve heard the term when speaking of doctors, (a God complex). I take that to mean a number of things. One being he sees himself above most people and another, although he’s qualified to be a doctor it doesn’t that, he has you best interest at heart. A nurse can be the same way. The biggest reason they chose the field they are in is for money rather than truly having a passion for your health.

I’ve also heard so called (Christians) say that they have a doctor that is Christian. Well, exactly what are they saying? I once had a doctor that was Muslim. He was one of the most caring doctors I ever had. Just because a person says they are Christian doesn’t mean they are not governed by the love of money rather than truly caring about you. Just because a person doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ doesn’t mean that don’t have a great passion to look after your health.

I believe there is a very valid question I need to ask myself at my age and in my current health condition. Why would God allow any doctor or health procedure to help me continue my life on the earth? Make no mistake, there are very wicked people that have heart surgery all the time and continue to live, I realize that. However, every one of us have to face death at some point. Man can develop all kind of things to extent our lives but, they have never been able to stop people from dying. God has appointed that every man must once.

My desire is to, as long as I live to allow his light to shine through my flesh. To me to do less is sin! After all, look at all he’s done for me!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7