In...Not Of

There is a feature on Facebook that I appreciate called "On This Day." This feature allows you to look back at your posts on that same date from any year since your membership began. 

It's fun to look back and find fond memories. I also like this feature to review and delete posts that reflect dark moments of my life. Wipe the slate clean in hopes of remaining positive. 

I strive attempt to consult this section of Facebook every day as a catch all. Recently, I found a post that was spot on from nearly 5 years ago. I read the quote and was hit by how profound the statement is. Looking for the author of this wise quote, I found that it was me! How quickly we forget. 

Here is the nugget of wisdom written by me in November 2011:

Heaven celebrates the lost being found.

Earth celebrates the found being lost.

We are in this world but not of it.

The only mention of a celebration in heaven for a human being is when someone accepts Jesus as his Lord (Luke 15:7). While there are other celebrations i.e. Revelation 19, the reason for most celestial celebrations is because of the works of God. 

In a prayer offered by Jesus in John 17, we get to be a fly on Jesus’ prayer wall. This prayer appears to be in the presence of his disciples so they got to listen in also. 

He prays for his disciples and those who followed him during his time on earth. He prays repeatedly that his Heavenly Father protect believers because he will no longer be with them. He knows he is leaving earth and returning to the Father. He specifically prays that his believers be guarded instead of taken from earth. He likens believers to himself by saying that neither are of this world.

For reference: 

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. John 17:14 NIV