Final Prayers

Final Prayers
John 17:11-12

11 And [kai] now [ouketi] I am [eimi] no more [ouketi] in [en] the world [kosmos] , but [kai] these [houtos] are [eisi] in [en] the world [kosmos] , and [kai] I [ego] come [erchomai] to [pros] thee [se] . Holy [hagios] Father [pater] , keep [tereo] through [en] thine own [sou] name [onoma] those [autos] whom [hos] thou hast given [didomi] me [moi] , that [hina] they may be [o] one [heis] , as [kathos] we [hemeis] are.
12 While [hote] I was [emen] with [meta] them [autos] in [en] the world [kosmos] , I [ego] kept [tereo] them [autos] in [en] thy [sou] name [onoma] : those that [hos] thou gavest [didomi] me [moi] I have kept [phulasso] , and [kai] none [oudeis] of [ek] them [autos] is lost [apollumi] , but [ei me] the son [huios] of perdition [apoleia] ; that [hina] the scripture [graphe] might be fulfilled [pleroo] . KJV-Interlinear

11 'And I am no more in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are. 12 'While I was with them, I was keeping them in Thy name which Thou hast given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. NASB

While Jesus was in the world, He personally protected the apostles and any others who might have chosen to follow Him. Certainly there were those who followed for a while, but were insulted (people get insulted easily), or became disinterested, or figured they could find something better (people always say that but they don't really look for something else), or for whatever other reason, fell away.

But the apostles, despite their many drawbacks, persevered with Christ, and thus were protected. Our protection does not depend on our human nature, (thankfully), but on Gods reputation. He does what He does because of who and what He is. And for that we should be very grateful.

Man has many flaws. If God treated us like we treat us, then He would have abandoned us long ago. Who needs that grief? God never abandons those who, in the long run, will belong to Him. He knows our future better than we, and perhaps that is why so many 'problem' people are still around. They are either used as live tests for others who are positive, or they will one day turn positive. That is not ours to question. Our grief in life does not come from God turning against us, but from our turning against Him in whatever form.

Even then, the world is full of grief sources. We need God in our lives in order to weather the future storms in our life. That is where all believers become one, as the apostles were prayed for to become one, just as the Father and the Son are one. To maintain the same philosophy (Gods Word), to live the same life (the spiritual life), to have the same relationship with God (through faith in Christ), and to grow up in the same fashion (the spiritual life in fellowship). Notice that your personality and abilities are not included in this 'oneness.'

Thus, when Jesus leaves the world, the apostles and all believers will be left behind to endure the world until they are called home in their eventual death. While in the world we, as believers, need some form of protection, and that is what God the Father does for each one of us. Through the giving of the Spirit, and through the Spirit, which has been previously promised in our study, the scriptures, which form the foundation of the structure within our individual souls which makes up our spiritual life.

We can run to God, and there find safety, Prov. 18:10. Unlike the sons of perdition, which is here in reference to Judas and his betrayal, Psa. 41:9 (the prediction of his betrayal), who had limitless opportunity as we all do through doctrine, but He turned his back on it, in preference for that which he could see and hold in his hands.

Perdition simply means to be lost. And all who turn their backs on God are lost. That is not a good thing in life. Life just gets worse and worse for you. So regardless of just how difficult times are for you in life, you should always keep your attention turned toward God and keep advancing in your spiritual life. God knows what you need and when you need it. You will never lose with God. And doctrine in your soul will make you tough, Eze. 3:8, so you can face up to and withstand the attacks of this world.

But if you get discouraged and turn your back on God, then things will never, ever get better. They will only get worse.

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