We are sojourners, aliens, pilgrims, foreigners and settlers here on earth, irrespective of our race or religious affiliation. Seeing yourself as one of the above will simplify your life. Acquiring material wealth will not be by all means – crooked or right ways. Position will not matter to you more than a tool to serve God and fulfill his counsel.
We all have a very short time here. How do you see life? Unending? What is your attitude towards life? The brothers of Joseph said, “We have come to sojourn in the land,” (Gen. 47:4). i.e. to make a living in this land, and afterward we will return to our land. Do you have a special place to return to after the expiration of your sojourning in this place? One thing is certain, you will surely exit this world one day, and you will definitely go somewhere. Where? Heaven or hell, of course. The choice is yours.
FEATURES OF PILGRIMS
Hebrews 11:9, 10, 13-16 (NKJV)
9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as [in] a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced [them] and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that [country] from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly [country]. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Heb 13:14 (KJV) For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
They live by faith, holding on to God’s promises.
They see afar off
They are hopeful
They look for a new city
They are not bothered by where they live but are concerned with where they are going.
They fear God. “And remember that the heavenly father to whom you pray has no favourites when He judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of Him during your time as a foreigner here on earth” 1Pet.1:17 (NLT).
They never compromise high standard of holiness. Joseph in Egypt refused to sleep with his master’s wife. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow to the golden statue.
They live a simple life (not do die affair)
And Abimelech asked Isaac to leave the country, ‘Go somewhere else,’ he said, “For you have become too rich and powerful for us.” So Isaac moved to the Gerar Valley and lived there instead. He reopened the wells his father had dug,… His shepherds also dug in the Gerar Valley and found a gushing spring. But the local shepherds came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a fight over it. Abandoning that one, he dug another well, and the local people finally left him alone…, Gen. 26:16-22 (NLT)
How old are you? How far have you spent the days of your pilgrimage? What account can you give of yourself? Do you actually seek a continuing city? The time is far spent. The night is approaching fast. Prepare to go home. As the Prophet says, “People are like grass that dies away; their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of wildflowers. The grass withers, and the flowers fall away”
BE WISE
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