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  I PRAY NOT THAT THOU SHOULDST TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD
  by C.H. Spurgeon
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Summary: Christ's prayer for His people is not for their instant removal
by death, but for them to stay in the flesh and glorify God.

Topics: "Endurance in Faith", "Purpose in Life"
Scripture References: John 17:15, Philippians 1:23

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DESCRIPTION
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C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that while believers long for the day they will
be with Jesus, He does not pray for their immediate removal from the
world. Instead, Christ desires His followers to remain on earth to
fulfill their purpose and to be a blessing to others. Spurgeon warns
against the selfish desire to escape troubles, urging Christians to
focus on glorifying God through their lives, even amidst struggles. He
reminds us that our time on earth is valuable and that we should trust
in God's timing for our ultimate homecoming. The sermon encourages
believers to embrace their earthly journey while relying on God's
strength to endure.

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CONTENT
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It is a sweet and blessed event which will occur to all believers in
God's own time--the going home to be with Jesus. In a few more years the
Lord's soldiers, who are now fighting "the good fight of faith" will
have done with conflict, and have entered into the joy of their Lord.
But although Christ prays that His people may eventually be with Him
where He is, He does not ask that they may be taken at once away from
this world to heaven. He wishes them to stay here. Yet how frequently
does the wearied pilgrim put up the prayer, "O that I had wings like a
dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest;" but Christ does not
pray like that, He leaves us in His Father's hands, until, like shocks
of corn fully ripe, we shall each be gathered into our Master's garner.

Jesus does not plead for our instant removal by death, for to abide in
the flesh is needful for others if not profitable for ourselves. He asks
that we may be kept from evil, but He never asks for us to be admitted
to the inheritance in glory till we are of full age. Christians often
want to die when they have any trouble. Ask them why, and they tell you,
"Because we would be with the Lord." We fear it is not so much because
they are longing to be with the Lord, as because they desire to get rid
of their troubles; else they would feel the same wish to die at other
times when not under the pressure of trial.

They want to go home, not so much for the Saviour's company, as to be at
rest. Now it is quite right to desire to depart if we can do it in the
same spirit that Paul did, because to be with Christ is far better, but
the wish to escape from trouble is a selfish one. Rather let your care
and wish be to glorify God by your life here as long as He pleases, even
though it be in the midst of toil, and conflict, and suffering, and
leave Him to say when "it is enough."

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ch-spurgeon/i-pray-not-that-thou-shouldst-take-them-out-of-the-world/
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