Not in this world

Consecrate them in the truth.

11 And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. 12 When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. 14 I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. 15 [a]I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. 17 Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. 19 And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.-John17:11-19

Jesus said, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one." Jesus knows that the time is near when He will face Passion, Crucifixion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension. The time is near when He will be with the Father in Heaven. Despite this awareness, Jesus looks upon us who are left behind. We belong to Him. But we still have our earthly pilgrimage to finish to. This earthly pilgrimage is here in the world. But being in the world does not mean that one has to be worldly or to be a slave of the world. Instead, we have the power to make a good and Godly choice to remain rooted in Christ despite living in a world that sees things differently. Years ago, I was put to the 'test' through temptation. Temptation was so sweet that I cannot walk away. I always say in my prayer that it is difficult to walk away and that I just have to give in to it, leading me to sin. Now, through hindsight, intense prayer and a better perspective, all that I can say is, indeed, sin only leads to death, sorrow, suffering and much sadness. If I have a choice to walk away before or if I am given a chance to undo the past, I would do the right thing. But past is past. All that I can do now is to better myself at present to make my future better too. Yes, we have a choice. We can make a good and Godly choice. We can choose not to be a slave of the world and sin.

Image courtesy: God's Not Dead

Rejoicing Heart

There is another morning for every evening.

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
21 When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.
22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name.-John16:20-23

Nothing lasts forever. When a mother is in labor, the pain seems forever and almost 50% of her body is buried in the ground. Like her, though we find ourselves in deep trouble, in extreme suffering, or endless hopelessness and despair, yet one day, it will all end. And when it does end, there is only happiness, rejoicing and gratitude that we have surpassed the test and emerged as better persons and much stronger. Above all, we have learned and have grown closer to God.

Image courtesy: artist