Hello everyone. It has been a while since I had been on here, I apologize. The family and I have been on vacation and really busy with my son’s baseball (practices and tournament).However, while on vacation, I met a group of students who called themselves “Exiles”. As I begin to talk to them, I found out that they had come to S.C. from Minnesota and beyond to spend time with God, kind of in “exile” from the world they were used to. As I thought about this, God led me to 1 Peter chapter 2…
1 Peter 2: 11,12, “ Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (NKJV)
Wow, as Christians, we are called to be “Exiles”… sojourners, pilgrims, strangers, aliens to this world in which we live in. We are called to be different! I believe, just like the group I met, God wants us to “get away” from everything of this world and draw closer to Him. In doing so, we are preparing ourselves for our true home… our home in Heaven.
The scriptures show us that everyone who lives by faith is an “Exile” here on earth…
Hebrews 11:13-22, “Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them. By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him—and this after he had already been told, "Your descendants shall come from Isaac." Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that's what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar. By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob and Esau. By an act of faith, Jacob on his deathbed blessed each of Joseph's sons in turn, blessing them with God's blessing, not his own—as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff. By an act of faith, Joseph, while dying, prophesied the exodus of Israel, and made arrangements for his own burial.” (The Message)
Just as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, we are to, as “Exiles” …
First, SEEK and look for our true home and secondly, DESIRE God and be after a far better place.
The words to a popular worship song we often sing (“Rescue”) says, “This world has nothing for me…” Nothing can ever compare to Christ and the place He has prepared for us in Heaven! A lot of times, we may think this world has something to offer and that it can satisfy our needs, but don’t be deceived! The truth is that we as Christians are just passing through and the things of this world are just temporary.
Listen to Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” I wonder how many of us are truly “eagerly waiting” for our Savior to return… Or are we just too busy being entertained and distracted by the things of this world? Remember, an “Exile” living by faith is desperately “seeking and desiring” another home, not just settling for this one.
The awesome thing I discovered about living the life of an “Exile” is, that is when God usually gives us our greatest revelations. It is there where God reveals His plan for our lives. (ex. You know… John…Isle of Patmos…Book of Revelation… Ha Ha) God wants us to get away from all this junk and grow closer to Him.
But don’t be confused, getting away doesn't mean that we are to go into hiding. He doesn’t want us to put on a disguise and hope no one knows we are a Christian. We are to lead others to the life of an “Exile”, we are show EVERYONE that there is a far better place for them too.
The life of an “Exile” is not easy, but it is required. Are you willing to live for Christ? What do you need to give up in this world to become an “Exile” and draw closer to God?
Listen to 1 Peter 2:11,12 again in the Message translation, “Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.”
The choice is yours!
1 Peter 2: 11,12, “ Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (NKJV)
Wow, as Christians, we are called to be “Exiles”… sojourners, pilgrims, strangers, aliens to this world in which we live in. We are called to be different! I believe, just like the group I met, God wants us to “get away” from everything of this world and draw closer to Him. In doing so, we are preparing ourselves for our true home… our home in Heaven.
The scriptures show us that everyone who lives by faith is an “Exile” here on earth…
Hebrews 11:13-22, “Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them. By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him—and this after he had already been told, "Your descendants shall come from Isaac." Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that's what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar. By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob and Esau. By an act of faith, Jacob on his deathbed blessed each of Joseph's sons in turn, blessing them with God's blessing, not his own—as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff. By an act of faith, Joseph, while dying, prophesied the exodus of Israel, and made arrangements for his own burial.” (The Message)
Just as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, we are to, as “Exiles” …
First, SEEK and look for our true home and secondly, DESIRE God and be after a far better place.
The words to a popular worship song we often sing (“Rescue”) says, “This world has nothing for me…” Nothing can ever compare to Christ and the place He has prepared for us in Heaven! A lot of times, we may think this world has something to offer and that it can satisfy our needs, but don’t be deceived! The truth is that we as Christians are just passing through and the things of this world are just temporary.
Listen to Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” I wonder how many of us are truly “eagerly waiting” for our Savior to return… Or are we just too busy being entertained and distracted by the things of this world? Remember, an “Exile” living by faith is desperately “seeking and desiring” another home, not just settling for this one.
The awesome thing I discovered about living the life of an “Exile” is, that is when God usually gives us our greatest revelations. It is there where God reveals His plan for our lives. (ex. You know… John…Isle of Patmos…Book of Revelation… Ha Ha) God wants us to get away from all this junk and grow closer to Him.
But don’t be confused, getting away doesn't mean that we are to go into hiding. He doesn’t want us to put on a disguise and hope no one knows we are a Christian. We are to lead others to the life of an “Exile”, we are show EVERYONE that there is a far better place for them too.
The life of an “Exile” is not easy, but it is required. Are you willing to live for Christ? What do you need to give up in this world to become an “Exile” and draw closer to God?
Listen to 1 Peter 2:11,12 again in the Message translation, “Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.”
The choice is yours!
No comments:
Post a Comment