Strangers
You are all healthy and happy today, I hope.
Have you ever felt out of place? Have you had an experience where you felt like the outsider? The stranger? I know many of you have experienced a culture different from your own—sometimes for long periods of time. Perhaps even now you have experiences where you feel not totally “at home.”
If you have ever had feelings of not feeling completely comfortable, a part of the group, or “at home,” you are not alone. I was reading a book just now talking about people who had similar experiences. They had names like Abe, Noah, Enoch and Abel. Hebrews chapter 11 is the heroes of faith chapter, but some key verses shine a telling light on the faces of these believers. Consider v. 13-16:
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not
receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them
from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers
on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a
country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had
left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were
longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Some of you have or had an LPR card—a Lawful Permanent Resident card. You have a keen understanding of what it means to be far from what is considered “home.” Even if you have moved a few times within the U.S., the question “So, where are you from?” becomes rather complex? As for me, I’ll never be ashamed of my Minnesota roots, yet most people who ask me that question now are wondering if I live in Boise or Meridian. In some way or another, most of us know what it means to come to live in a new place—and that is a blessing.
It’s a blessing to be a stranger—an alien—a pilgrim because it underscores your true homeland all the more. Abe, Noah and the rest left “home” and went to a new place. But they were all looking forward to—“longing for” a better country. They had their view set toward their heavenly home.
The lesson for us is clear, isn’t it my fellow spiritual LPR card holders? Careful how deep you pound those stakes in to your earthly home—it isn’t your lasting or true home. In fact, stakes is a good way to think of it. We are “camping” until the Lord calls us home. Just like the patriarchs of old saw the stars by campfire (think of David, Abraham camping while on the dusty trail), you and I have staked out our earthly lot. Too often we spend too much of our time, finances and effort sprucing up the campground, making our tent more comfortable, all the while thinking that our earthly tent is what is most important because it’s what we see and experience right now. We betray poor priorities influenced by this sinful world too often in our Blackberries and our credit card web-payments. Sure, we need to care for the tent, but the tent isn’t “it.” There is so much more!
You have a heavenly homeland awaiting you—the place where your Savior has gone to prepare for you. Jesus has earned the right to prepare this place because through his perfect life and substitutionary death, he earned the place in heaven for you, me, and all people. Through faith in Jesus alone, your heavenly immigration has been processed. Your passport has been stamped. Your heavenly citizenship has been established. Jesus has done everything to save you and bring you . . . home.
Bless you on your way, reminded of your home. God enrich your longing for your heavenly home. God renew in your heart a deep thankfulness for your place in heaven. God challenge you in your life of thanks,
Thought for the day: Give serious thought to the question "where am I from?" Then think about the question, "where am I going?"
Prayer Idea: Ask God for a deeper understanding and appreciation for the assurance of heaven. Pray for help in recognizing opportunities to help those who have no hope of heaven, or those whose faith is weak or troubled. Praise God for blessing you with a living hope.
Blessings on your week!
Pastor Dan
Feel free to browse the archived devotions on the list to the left.
If you have any ideas, suggestions,
or feedback, please e-mail me:
peaceinjesus@clearwire.net
or
pastor@peaceinjesus4vietnamese.org