Strangers and Pilgrims

It is easy to get caught up in the things of this world.  After all, we need such things to keep us alive and healthy.  We need houses to live in, we need food to eat to keep our bodies healthy, we need schools to educate our children, and we need cars to get us to work to make money to support our families.  Then, we need what might be thought of as less important things, such as recreation for body and mind.  We need times for families to be together for support.  Yes, it is easy to get caught up in the things of this world!

Yet, Peter wrote: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11).  The two words “strangers” and “pilgrims” are interesting words.  First, the word “stranger” (Grk. paroikos) refers to folks near others but who are foreign to the land.  Spiritually, it refers to those whose citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), but who are now living in this world.  God’s children need to understand that we live in this world, but we are not of this world.  We do not belong to this world, but we belong to heaven. We are sojourners here!

The second word, “pilgrims,” (Grk. parepidemos) signifies “sojourning in a strange place, away from one’s own people” (Vine, p. 865).  We are like Abraham, who “sojourned … in a strange country …” (Heb. 11:9), and we must have the same attitude, confessing as did those Old Testament worthies “that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” for they desired “a better country, that is an heavenly” (Heb. 11:13, 16).  So must we.  As that beautiful song, “Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims,” declares: “Here we are but straying pilgrims; Here our path is often dim;  But to cheer us on our journey, Still we sing this wayside hymn; Yonder over the rolling river, Where the shining mansions rise, Soon will be our home forever, And the smile of the blessed Giver Gladdens all our longing eyes.” Yes, in the world but not of the world!

Keeping the right perspective will help us from being caught up in things of this world.  If we keep before us at all times that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, it will help us put first things first!  Jesus said: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matt.   6:33); true, these words were uttered before the kingdom came and the righteousness of the gospel had been preached, on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection; nevertheless, the priority remains the same.  The kingdom is the place of the saved, and the righteousness of God is the means by which we remain saved.  They must hold first place in our lives. For it is the kingdom that Christ will deliver up at the end: “Then cometh the end, when he (Christ, frw) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power” (1 Cor. 15:24). Knowing that we are but strangers and pilgrims on this earth will help us keep our eyes on the objective of our lives: our eternal home!

We might become disappointed when things change, but let us not become discouraged!  Disappointments need not discourage us but for a moment; for we have the ability to see the eternal objective.  Our salvation and the salvation of others!  We have on the “harness of work,” so let us tighten it up, and put our hands to the work of our God. Will we need to make some changes?  Yes, but the work and mission have not changed; the church purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28) must edify in worship and teaching the saved, help those in need, and teach the lost the gospel of Christ.

Elders who are appointed according the terms of revealed in 1 Timothy 3 and elsewhere, will aid the church in her efforts in fulfilling her works and mission.  But it will, as it always has, take a willing mind working with one accord!  May it be so!

Frank R. Williams

SUNDAY SERMONS

MORNING:

Studies in Philippians

EVENING:

More Studies in Philippians

Remember:

First Sunday Business Meeting & Potluck

Evening Worship Moved to 1 PM

THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ELDERS

(1 Timothy 3:1-7)

“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”