No Water in the Boat
“It’s ok for a boat to be in the water but not vice versa.” These words illustrate exactly the relationship of the Christian and the world. The Lord Jesus Christ prayed to the Father on our behalf, “[not] that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)
Our Savior was not teaching withdrawal but separateness. John writes further, “Do not love the world or the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15) Again, we can read, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) What is the point? At the moment we received the salvation of Christ through His blood, we were born again spiritually. We did not just purchase fire insurance against God’s judgment of sin in hell. We are now “new [creatures]; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) In fact, Jesus mentioned in His prayer that “[we] are not of the world, just as [He is] not of the world.” (John 17:16) But He goes on to say, “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18) Listen, Christians! God’s grace in saving us by forgiveness of our sins, and His gift of eternal life are not to be taken for granted. We have them at the price of the shed blood and death of the Son of God. If a boat is not sealed, it will take on water and sink—becoming useless for service. Likewise, if a believer is not fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s control, he will take on the mindset of the world—becoming useless for service. The Lord wants us in the world as witnesses to Him, but He wants us to be “transformed” (Romans 12:2) by His Word. Heed the exhortation of James for each believer to “keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
