ET is You!

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

John 17:14-16

Jesus said twice in two verses, “They are not of this world, even as I am not of it.” When Jesus repeats Himself it is not because His memory is slipping. It is certainly because He wants to underline and put an exclamation mark on the statement.

It has been thirty four years since my wife and I came back from living in Indonesia. During those two years we learned the true meaning of being a “foreigner.” We were not mistreated by any means, but it was clear that we did not fit in to the culture and life of the people.

Jesus said that His followers are not of this world. He also said that He is not of this world. Before you came to know Jesus and commit your life to Him you were of this world and you fit in quite well. You knew how to relate to the rest of the world around you. You thought like, talked like and acted like the world around you. Then you encountered Jesus Christ. Jesus did not force you to follow Him, but confronted with who He is you made the commitment to follow Him above all others!

When you decided to follow Jesus you gained many things, but you lost your citizenship in this world. You are no longer of this world. You are indeed an “extra-terrestrial.” “ET is you” if you are a follower of Jesus.

Many followers of Jesus spend lots of time trying to fit back in to the world from which they came. It is foolish to do that. Instead of focusing of the world you will soon be leaving, spend your time and effort getting ready for the trip!

As vacation day approaches the wise man prepares to leave. It is foolish to wait until the last minute to get ready to go.

Do at least one thing today that needs to be done before you leave this earth to live forever with Jesus!