(The following is the April 27 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 17 and pay close attention to verses 6-19.)

It is good and natural for Christians to long for and anticipate being in God’s presence for eternity. The reality will undoubtedly be far more magnificent than we can imagine. While looking forward to eternity with Christ encourages us, we should not be so focused on the future that we lose sight of how God wants to use us in the present. If we are still here, he has a purpose for us, and we should strive to understand it and live it out daily with joy.

In Jesus’ high priestly prayer, he prayed for himself and all his disciples, both living at the time of his prayer and all who would come later (which includes us). He did not pray that his disciples would escape from this world: “I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (v. 15).

Despite all its evil, sin, and daily woes, this world is incredible. Our great Creator made this wondrous universe that fascinates us and causes us to marvel at his design. After creating everything, God declared it to be very good (Gen 1:31). We should not lament our time on Earth as though nothing about it is good. We should praise God for life, breath, and opportunities to serve him, trusting that we have a God-given purpose as long as we are here. If God wanted us out of this world and in the next, we’d be there already.  

Jesus prayed for the protection of his disciples from the evil one. That protection should give us the courage to continue living out our purpose here until God chooses to bring us to our eternal home.

Next Step:
Have a prayer time with two parts: (1) praising God for the promise of eternal life in his presence and (2) thanking him for the opportunity to serve him in this life. Pray for wisdom in how to serve him best going forward.