Whosoever looks forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises should also live like strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ‘Strangers’ in the sense that our home is in heaven. Earth is not our permanent home and we are pilgrims because we are journeying to heaven. When you are on a journey from one destination to another then you are a pilgrim.
What demand does being a pilgrim make on our lives? First, we are to travel light. It means we are to carry nothing along except what is necessary and useful for the journey. We are on a journey but the people of the world are not on a journey and that is why they give all their time and energy to running after money and to acquiring material possessions at the expense of their souls. Our knowledge helps us to take only the necessary, compulsory things with us on our journey.
Secondly, somebody on a journey does not stop by to rest until he reaches home. This is why we must not settle down anywhere on the way. We should keep marching on, eagerly looking forward to the time of rest which we know will surely come.
Thirdly, somebody on a journey, if he is sure o his destination from his point of take off does not have the intention to turn back mid way. This is why we should not be thinking about going back to the world.
Fourthly, we do not stop by to gaze at the vanities on display by the road-side. We must not stop by to attend the theatres, cinemas, night clubs, public houses, social parties and political rallies of the world. Rather, we should keep marching on and we should not allow these things to tie us down by the road-side.
Fifth, we are to be careful not to allow another traveler who has missed his way to discourage us or to distract our attention or make us miss the way. We want to get home as quickly as possible. That means you must beware of friends and mixed multitude on your Christian journey.
Sixth, we keep constantly before our eyes our future which is our final destination even when others decide to drop by the way. We have to keep marching on until we reach our destination. I want you to know that we are ambassadors of the king of our own heavenly country. We are not part of the people here because we belong over there! We are only here for this moment as ambassadors of our King. As Christian strangers and pilgrims our citizenship is in heaven. The patriarchs believed in the promises of God to the point of death and counted themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth. If you believe in the Lord, you must realize that we are strangers on this earth!
You should make up your mind not to build again the things you have once destroyed. Beware of people who regret that they ever got saved. Stay outside of the company of those who bemoan their knowledge of the way of holiness. Fix your eyes on the goal, keep on following the Lord to the very end of your life. May the Lord grant you journey mercies to His city (Heaven) Amen.
