Okay. The name of the message
today is Aliens, Strangers, Pilgrims. Aliens, Strangers, Pilgrims. I ask you who are born again
child of God, who have been saved by the precious blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ, washed clean of all your sins through his
blood, I ask you this morning, my dear brothers and sisters
who are new creatures in Christ by the mighty work of God the
Holy Spirit, is there any question why we
are looked upon as strangers and aliens before the eyes of
the unregenerate world? I ask you who are the blood-bought
saints of God, Are you burdened by the rejection of those of
your natural family since the Lord has saved you? Does it seem
as if there's a sword now? Does it burden your heart that the relationships that you
once counted dear with your natural family are now strained since
the Lord has saved you? Maybe even your own spouse has
rejected the hope and love that the Savior of sinners has instilled
in your own heart. You know how that burdens you,
too. How we carry around the burdens
of our children who are not saved, our family members who are not
saved, our friends who are not saved. Do not your own parents and brothers
and sisters sometimes appear strangers to
you when you bring up anything scriptural? They just don't want to talk
about it. Do your closest relatives keep
their distance because you have being made to walk in a different
way than them. From the way by nature you once
walked, just as they do, and from the way which you once
enjoyed to walk with them. The reason being is because we
are pilgrims, beloved. We're strangers. spiritual aliens
in this world traveling to our heavenly home. Traveling to our
heavenly home. Our Savior said this, a man's
foes shall be those of his own household. He that loveth father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10 verses
36 and 37. And also remember the words of
our master. In John 15, verses 18 and 19,
he said these words. If the world, which is unbelievers,
hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the
world would love its own. See, we're not of the world,
beloved. Because the world loves its own. And he goes on to say, the world
would love its own, but because you are not of the world, but
I have chosen you. Oh, what comforting words. God has chosen us. He's chosen
the people. I've chosen you what? Out of
the world. Therefore the world hateth you. And then he says,
love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. Let's go back to Job where I
had brother Matt read. Job chapter 19. Now our dear
brother Job, he knew what it felt like. He knew exactly what
we feel. And beloved, every born again
believer through the ages have felt this. We're not alone. It's not something new. Every believers felt these things.
Because this world isn't our home. It isn't our home, beloved. We're here but for a short time. A short time. Look at this in
Job, chapter 19, verses 13 to 19. He hath put my brethren far
from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
My kinsfolk have failed. My familiar friends have forgotten
me. People we used to Go out and do things with. They don't
want to be around us now. Family members who we once were
real close with, now at the name of Christ, they just shake their
heads and walk away. Now we may talk with them still,
we do, don't we? Because we love them and we pray for them all
the time, don't we? Because we desire them to come
to Christ if it be God's will. Now we find ourselves just talking
about the weather and surface things. But nothing spiritual. Not like
we have with one another when we talk to each other about the
things of God and the fire burns within us. Our hearts burn within
us as we get excited as we talk to our fellow brothers and sisters
in Christ about the Lord, about what he's done, about who he
is. We don't have that with our natural family now. It says here,
my kinfolks have failed. And my familiar friends have
forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house and my maids count
me for a stranger. I am an alien in their sights.
I called my servant and he gave no answer. I entreated him with
my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife,
though I entreated for the children's sake of my own body. Yea, young
children despise me. I arose and they spake against
me. All my inward friends abhorred me. And they whom I loved, they
turned against me. Our great king came into this
world and he was despised and rejected a man. Hated without a cause, beloved.
And I'll tell you what, when the Lord saves you, you find
people gonna turn against you. People who you didn't think would
turn against you. But just keep on trusting our King, beloved.
Because like Brother John often says, it's just the beginning.
The battle is all through our life, beloved. But we just keep
looking to Christ, don't we? He's given us faith to look to
Him and to trust in Him, no matter what comes. And we do. We rest in Him. We rest in Him. We're just strangers and pilgrims
here. Says, I called my servant, and
he gave me no answer. I entreated him with my mouth.
My breath is strange to my wife, and I entreated the children's
sake of mine own body. Yea, young children despise me.
I rose, and they spake against me. All my inward friends abhorred
me, and they whom I love, they are turned against me. Oh my. Note the word there in verse
11, the word alien. In Hebrew, that means strange,
foreign, strange, or foreigner. It refers, actually, it refers
to someone who's not part of the family, especially the extended
family of Israel. Under the law, strangers were
not allowed to rule in Israel. Turn, if you would, to Deuteronomy
chapter 17. Under the law, strangers were not allowed to rule in Israel. And this word alien in the Hebrew
has a, again, it's like they abhor him. They
want nothing to do with him. Nothing to do with him. He's
an alien now. He's a stranger. Did you know that the Jews who
professed Christ were treated in the same way by their families? Wanted nothing to do with them.
So to confess Christ as a Jew was a big thing in that way. Because you lost everything.
You're probably going to lose your job. You're probably going
to lose your livelihood. They don't even consider you
to be part of the Commonwealth of Israel. But you're part of
the true Commonwealth of Israel. We'll look at that later on. Look at this in Deuteronomy.
Chapter 17, verses 15. Deuteronomy 17, 15. Strangers
were not allowed to rule in Israel. And this is the same word here.
Thou shalt in any wise set him king, verse 15. Thou shalt in
any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose,
one from among the brethren shalt thou set king over thee. Thou
mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
The same word is talked about Job. Then go to Deuteronomy 15 and
look at verse 3. They were also not, strangers
were also not released from the debts every seven years as Hebrews
were. Look at this, verse three. Of
a foreigner thou mayest exact it again, but that which is thine
with thine brother, thine hand shall release. So every seven
years, the Hebrews were released from their debt, but not the
strangers. Not the strangers. Then go to Deuteronomy 14 and
look at verse 21. Those who were considered aliens
could be sold certain ceremonially unclean food. Why? Why? Because these strangers,
these aliens, they were considered unholy. You could give them whatever
you wanted. You could sell them whatever
you couldn't eat, you could sell it to them. Because see, Gentiles were just
considered dogs. We're all Gentiles. Commonwealth
of Israel, we'd just be considered doves. They could sell us whatever
they wanted to, because they considered us unholy. Well, in
our natural state, we're all unholy, aren't we? Look at this,
Deuteronomy 14, verse 21. Ye shall not eat of anything
that dieth of itself. Thou shalt give it unto the stranger
that is in thy gates, that he may eat it, or thou mayest sell
it unto an alien. That's the same word there as
used in Job. For thou art an holy people unto thy God, Thou
shalt not seeth a kid in his mother's milk. So these strangers
and aliens, they are looked at as unholy Gentile doves. But we see in Job 19 verse 15
there, that Job there, he's considered as a stranger in his own family,
an alien. Look at that. They that dwell in mine house
and my maids count me for a stranger, and I am an alien in their sight."
After the Lord saved you, was there a difference in how people
who knew you treated you? As you profess Christ, there
was a big change for me, I know that. And there still is a wedge. Not of my doing. And I know not
of your doing with your family members and friends. Friends
I used to hang out with and do all kinds of crazy stuff with,
they now want nothing to do with me. What happened to Boydie?
He's lost his marbles. No, the Lord saved me by his
grace. By his grace. And I know it's
so for you too. And our family members now look at us in different
ways. Some of our children look at us in different ways. But
that's okay. We just keep trusting Christ,
don't we? We have a hope within us that we didn't have before.
And that hope is Christ, and Christ alone. And only in Him do we trust.
Now Ruth, in Ruth 2.10, Then she fell on her face, and
bowed herself to the ground, and said unto Boaz, Why have
I found grace in thine eyes, that thou mayest take knowledge
of me, seeing I am a stranger, seeing I am not of the commonwealth
of Israel. The word alien is different than
the word strangers in the Hebrew. Again this word alien in Job
19.15 has more emphasis placed on it according to the defilement
of foreign women and foreign ways. And so they're thus abhorred
by these rights. They want nothing to do with
them. They're selling the food they can't eat, but they don't
want anything to do with them. They're unclean. And so Job says, now all of a
sudden I'm like that to my own family. The word This word alien is used
45 times in the Old Testament, 20 times it's translated strange,
16 times it's translated stranger, 3 times it's translated alien,
and twice it's translated strangers. My! So we see this verse that
we looked at there in Job, it speaks of of those who are not
of the household of Israel. And anyone outside of Israel
again was considered a Gentile dog, a foreigner, a stranger,
an alien to the commonwealth of Israel and to all the promises
that were there. Now if you go to 1 Peter, let's
go to 1 Peter chapter 1. 1 Peter chapter 1. And note here what the Born again,
blood-washed people of God are called. 1 Peter 1 Peter, an apostle of
Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered out, scattered throughout
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. Now note,
the saints of God here are referred to as strangers in this world. Strangers. And we know strangers
to the religion of the world, eh? And what is the religion
of the world? You can work your way to heaven.
It don't matter what they put on it. It's all about self. And we're strangers to that religion,
aren't we? Because we trust in Christ and
what He's done. He's the only way to glory, beloved.
No other way. So not only are we strangers
to the world, now we're strangers to the religion of the world,
to works-based religion. We want nothing to do with it.
Absolutely nothing to do with it. We trust Christ and Him alone. We trust the finished work of
Christ, the complete work of Christ. And our citizenship, beloved,
is not of this world. Our citizenship is not of this
world. We're ambassadors for Christ. Every believer is an
ambassador for Christ. Every believer. What does an
ambassador do? Well, they tell the country they're
from. They tell the glories of that country. Well, we know that
we tell the glories of Christ, don't we? And we seek a better
country, beloved. We'll look at that later. We
seek a better country. That's heaven, where Christ is,
beloved. Where Christ is. But we see here
that the strangers are scattered throughout Pontius, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God's elect are scattered all
through this world, beloved. We don't have a clue where they
are. Gospel preacher gets up, he preaches the gospel message.
The message goes forth, right? Goes out to the internet, spreads
all over the world. You'd be amazed at people who
download sermons all over the world, love it. We don't see
the effects of it, it's for God's glory, and it goes out and he
uses it however he will. And we marvel in that, just marvel
in that. But remember, God's people are
scattered throughout this world until the Lord calls us home. Until the Lord calls us home.
So Paul's writing to the saints of God who've been scattered,
and they've been scattered due to persecution of their faith
in Christ. They've testified of Christ,
they've testified of trusting in Christ, and they're being
persecuted for it. And they've scattered. Now think
of this, in God's wise providence, persecution comes, right? They're all together there in
Jerusalem. Persecution comes, right? It's like when you stomp
on a fire. What happens when you stomp on
a fire? Sparks just go whoo, right? All over the place, don't
they? Persecution comes, boom, and they just scatter, beloved.
And you know what? They take the gospel with them.
You see how God's wise providence works, beloved? It's amazing.
It's absolutely incredible. So they're being persecuted for
their faith, but never forget that God has planned and purposed
all this to come to pass by his wise providence, again, to take
the gospel to the entire world, beloved. Now look at verse two. Elect, which means chosen, can't
get around the word. Elect, according to the foreknowledge
of God, the Father, how? Through the sanctification of
the Spirit, we're born again by the Holy Spirit of God. And
look at this, the whole Trinity in action right here. Look at
that, elect, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the
world, elect, according to the knowledge of God, the Father,
through sanctification of the Spirit, there's the Holy Spirit,
and he regenerates us, we're born again, unto obedience, And
sprinkling the blood of Jesus Christ, we're redeemed by the
precious blood of Christ. The whole Trinity is in action
in our salvation. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.
Now turn over to chapter 2. Chapter 2. Now the word strangers there
in the Greek, in chapter 1, verse 1, is translated strangers once
in this, that verse and twice as pilgrims in the New Testament.
Look at here in 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 11. We'll read verses
9 to 12 though. So that same Greek word that's
translated strangers in verse 1 of chapter 1 is only translated
two other times and it's translated as Pilgrims. But ye are a chosen generation.
Again, verse nine. A chosen generation. Chose out
of your generation. God chose you out of your generation
in eternity. He knows the end from the beginning.
A royal priesthood. Sinners? Sinners are now a royal
priesthood? Yeah, because we're clothed in
the righteousness of Christ. Not by our own doing, but all
by God. All by God. A royal priesthood.
And a holy nation. My, the blessings just are piled
upon each other here. A peculiar people. That ye should show forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light. Which in times past, look at
this, which in times past were not a people. Well, when we were
dead in trespasses and sins, we've always been the people
of God, but in our nature and in our natural state, when we
were dead in trespasses and sins, we were not a people of God. But are now the people of God,
because we're born again now, the Holy Spirit of God, which
had not obtained mercy, but now have what? Obtained mercy. Isn't
it wonderful? All according to the purpose
of God, beloved. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims. Same Greek word there for pilgrims is what's used in
in verse one of chapter one. Pilgrims abstain from fleshy
lusts, which which war against the soul, having your conversation
honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you
as evildoers, that they may by your good works, which they shall
behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Now they're having
a conversation amongst the Gentiles that they won't say, well look,
he's a hypocrite, or she's a hypocrite. They say one thing and they do
another thing. So, now turn to Hebrews 11, verse
13, we see the same word in the Greek, again translated pilgrims.
This is speaking of the saints of God upon this earth. And remember,
only the blood-bought, born-again children of God are called this.
Only those whom Christ has redeemed with his precious blood. We are
strangers and pilgrims in this world. There was a time when
we loved this world. I know, there's a time when I
loved this world, and I love the things of this world, but
they don't have the same appeal to me now as they used to. Is
it so for you? I just can't wait to get home. I'm looking forward to that day,
and I know we all when the Lord will give us dying grace when
it comes. We don't need dying grace right now because we're
not dying. But that day when we're dying, God will give us
dying grace, beloved. I believe he does, he does. I've
seen it in people. And then we're just, but step
through that door called death and be in the presence of our
Savior forever. Forever. It'll be absolutely glorious.
Absolutely glorious. Look at this in Hebrews chapter
11. Look at this. Talking about God's people upon
this earth. And this is including all His elect now. Those all
died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen
them afar off. Well, we know our Lord's promised
us eternal life, don't we? We know it. And it's only in
Him. It's only in Christ. And we're trusting Him. And we're
resting in Him. But having seen them afar off
and were persuaded of them, we believe them. We believe the
promises of God. We believe what God says. And embrace them and confess
that they were strangers and pilgrims on this earth. Look
at this. For they that say such things
declare plainly that they seek a country. Oh, we seek a country. We seek a country where we will
see our savior face to face, where we will behold the face
of the king. Forever. Forever. Oh, what a day that'll be. What
a day that'll be. Now, the Greek word there means
that for pilgrim means one who comes from a foreign country
into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives. I've come from Canada. I'm considered
an alien. I'm a legal alien, they call
me. A registered alien, that's what
they call me. So I understand what this is talking about. I
reside with the natives of the country. You guys are natural
citizens. And I reside here with you. That's what this is saying. This
is what pilgrims means in our text. We reside Here on this
earth, but this isn't our home. We seek a better country, beloved,
where Christ is. And heaven will only be heaven
because Christ is there. Heaven will only be heaven because
Christ is there. It also goes on to say a stranger sojourning
in a strange place, a foreigner, a foreigner. In the New Testament,
metaphorically, it's used in reference to heaven as the native
country of God's people. God's peoples are strangers and
pilgrims while they're on this earth. So we who are the people
of God are strangers to the ones who once knew us in the flesh.
We're strangers in the sense that they don't understand us.
They don't understand what we believe. They're in shock. They once knew us in the flesh
as But now we're new creatures in
Christ. We have new desires, we have
a new hope now. We have an everlasting hope that's
in Christ. We've been called of God into
this newness of life in Christ. And as much as we love and have
affection towards our families, If they're not believing heirs
of grace, they're in the world. And they're of the world. And we are the followers of Christ,
beloved. We're born again by the Holy Spirit of God. We trust
our eternal souls to Christ and Him alone. We do not march to
the drumbeat of the world. There was a time when we did.
I did. And I know you did, too. There
was a time when we marched to the drumbeat of the world. Be
merry and get all you can and have as much fun as you can.
But that fun and that merriness turned out to be emptiness whenever
I discovered all that. True joy is trusting in Christ. That other stuff just twinkles
away. It's a facade. It's a facade. We trust our eternal souls to
Christ. We're no longer on the broad
way to destruction, beloved. We're on the narrow path. God
himself has put us on the narrow path. Turn, if you would, to
Matthew chapter 7. Matthew chapter 7. And do you
know it's He who keeps us on that path? Left to ourselves,
we're sheep, eh? We'd just be, whoa, what's going
on over here? But He keeps us on that path,
beloved. And He keeps us in the way, which
is Christ. It's His almighty hand that keeps
us. Look at this in Matthew chapter
7, verses 12 to 14. Therefore all things whatsoever
you would that men would do to you, Do you even so to them? For this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in the straight gate,
for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction.
Oh, it's broad and it's wide. Oh, it is. This is the way to
heaven. This is the way to heaven. This
is the way. This way, this way, this way. Eat, drink and be merry,
for tomorrow we die. Oh, tomorrow you perish in your
sins into a Christless eternity. And look what it says, and many
there be which go in there at. Many, not just a few, many. Because straight is the gate
and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it. Oh, the path is narrow, because
it's one way. It's Christ. Few there be that
find it, and we only find it because it's revealed to us.
Christ is revealed to us. Oh my, beloved. Let's go back
to 1 Peter, chapter 2. And we see that each sheep of
God was chosen out of the generation. Each child of God is an object
of God's mercy and love from their generation. And God chose
us in eternity. And this truth is marvelous in
the believer's eye. It just gives us great joy to
know these truths. We're a royal priesthood, beloved,
because that's what the Scripture says. And we believe that, because
that's what the Scripture says. And it's Christ who's made us
holy. We're only holy in Him, we're only sanctified in Him.
Look at this in 1 Peter 2, we'll read verses 9-12 again. But ye
are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation,
a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him
who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. which
in times past were not a people, but now are the people of God,
which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Dearly beloved, That's beloved there is divinely loved ones.
Dearly, divinely loved ones. Isn't that wonderful? Dearly,
divinely loved ones. I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims abstain from fleshy lusts, which war against the
soul. Having your conversation honest
among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evildoers,
they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify
God in the day of visitation. Now note the words there, peculiar
people. The Greek word for peculiar speaks of a purchased possession. A purchased possession. We are
a special people not in ourselves, but only because God chose us
and God incarnate in the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ purchased
us with his precious blood. That's the only reason we are
that. And it's the blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ by which we're saved. He's redeemed us. We who are
the blood-bought people of God should show forth the praises
of He who called us. It should fill our mouths with
praise for Him doing this for us. It's marvelous, it's wondrous
what our great Redeemer and Savior has done for us. We're called
out of darkness into the marvelous light of the sun. All by a work of God. And note
verse 10 brings forth that we were not a people, but are now
the people of God. And again, this speaks of our
natural state. We've always been loved by God, but this speaks
of our natural state where we had enmity with God in our minds
by wicked works, the scripture says. And we've obtained mercy,
haven't we? Every child of God has obtained
mercy. We've obtained mercy, undeserved
mercy. Undeserved grace we've obtained
it through Christ Jesus our Lord We didn't seek it. We didn't
ask for it. It was given to us It's marvelous It's absolutely
marvelous and now We who have obtained mercy Are now strangers
and pilgrims in this world world just as verse 11 brings forth Turn if you would to Ephesians
chapter 2 Ephesians chapter 2 and Ephesians chapter 2. We'll read verses 11 to 22. Look
at this. Ephesians chapter 2. Paul's going to tell us here,
he's already told us that we're saved by grace through faith,
and that not of ourselves, it's a gift of God, not of works.
He told us we're dead in trespasses and sins at the beginning of
of chapter 2 here and then in verses 8 and 9 he told us we're
saved by grace not by anything we do. Now look at verse 11 to
the end of the chapter. Wherefore remember that ye being
in times past Gentiles in the flesh who are called uncircumcision
by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hand. So
the Jews would call any Gentiles uncircumcision. At that time
he were without Christ We were in our natural minds. We were
dead in trespasses. That was our state. That was
my state before the Lord saved me. My this is just at that time
you were without Christ being aliens from the Commonwealth
of Israel had one nothing to do with Christ, one nothing to
do with the gospel, one nothing to do with the people of God.
That was my state. Was it yours? Oh, my brother. No, you know
what I'm talking about. My goodness. Oh, my goodness. Oh, my. And then look at this. From the
Commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise
having no hope. Oh, I had no hope. I was terrified of dying. Absolutely terrified of it. No
hope. And without God in the world,
but now All praise God for the little word but. But now in Christ
Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood
of Christ. bought into the presence of God
by the blood of Christ. Hallelujah. Oh my goodness. For He is our peace. Christ is
the believer's peace. We have no peace outside of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath
made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us, which was division. Our sins kept us from God. Oh
my, having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one
new man, so making peace. And that he might reconcile both
unto God, both Jew and Gentile who are in Christ. Unto God in
one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. My, and came and preached peace to
you. Do you remember when the gospel came to you? Peace was preached to us, wasn't
it? Peace! Peace! Marvelous hope in Christ! And came and preached peace to
you which were sometimes far off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have
access by one spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are
no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens. Oh my goodness. We're not strangers anymore.
We're not foreigners to the commonwealth of Israel anymore. We're not,
we're now fellow citizens with the saints, all the saints, all
the elect of God and the household of God in Christ. We know that. Look at this. In our belt upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
be in the chief cornerstone. in whom all the building fitly
framed together. It all fits perfectly. You know
why? Because it's a building of God. It's a building of His
making. That's why all the stones fit perfectly. Because we were
chosen. Remember, we're living stones.
We looked at that too in the study one time. We're living
stones. We're hewed and placed in the temple of God where we're
to be placed by God. and are built up upon the foundation,
of course the foundation is Christ, there's no other foundation,
of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief
cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom also you are
built together for inhabitation of God through the Spirit. Oh
my, oh my. So remember that Peter over there
in 1 Peter, he's writing to those who are strangers in the lands
mentioned at the start of the book, which we looked at there
in 1 Peter. Jewish converts who were strangers
in a strange land. They were considered aliens in
those regions that they were now in. They would have been
ostracized by their own families back in Israel. They'd been disowned
by them when they converted to Christianity. and they'd be banned
from the synagogue after their conversion if there was one in
the area and they would gather together to worship. So what
a comfort this letter from Peter would be to them. Let's go back
to 1st Peter chapter 2, we'll read verses 10 again to 12. Which in times past were not
a people but now the people of God which had not obtained mercy
but now have obtained mercy dearly beloved we besiege you as strangers
and pilgrims that stain from fleshy lusts which war against
the soul having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that
whereas they speak against you as evildoers they may by your
good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation when we're looking at the scriptures
each passage and we should keep in mind Beloved of God, what
is the subject that the author has in view and what is the object
he has in view in dealing with the subject? Now, note the subject
of the apostle Peter here is plainly dealing with in this
book is the final deliverance and complete joy, which Christians
are to obtain at the second coming. Of the Lord Jesus Christ, look
in verse 12, the end of that which they shall behold, glorify
God in the day of visitation. at the second coming of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Even though the saints are suffering
through manifold temptations and trials in the earth, they
will one day be in the presence of the Lord. That's the hope
that we have. That's the hope that we have as believers. No
matter what we go through in this world, we will one day be
in the presence of our great God and king because we're strangers
and pilgrims. And Peter here brings forth before
them that they're just strangers in this world. We need to be
reminded of this, don't we? We're just strangers in this
world. This world is an unfriendly world. And Peter's writing to them saying,
you're different from the people all around you. God has chosen
you. You're a blood bought, purchased
saint of God. And that's why you don't have
the attachments to this world that you once had. Again, over in the Hall of Faith,
in Hebrews 11, we read again, those all died in faith. They
died trusting the Lord. They died looking to Christ.
Not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off,
they believed what God said in His word. They believed it. And were persuaded of them and
embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. because they plainly declared
that they seek a country. They seek a country. The figure
of a stranger applied to the child of God here on earth is
a very relevant and full picture. Consider the analogies between
one who is in a foreign country and the Christian in this world.
The stranger in a strange land The stranger in a strange land,
one in which is appreciated for his birth, but is sometimes persecuted. The Lord said, if you were of
the world, the world would love you, love his own, but because
you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hated you. Don't be, don't be surprised
when persecution comes for your, your faith. The stranger in another
country, has habits and ways and language
that are different than those who live in that country. Think of this in light of the
believer wherein they think it's strange that you run not with
them to the same excess of riots speaking evil of you. We don't
want to go and do the things we used to do. And our friends
and family members who we used to do those things with, they
think it's strange and they speak evil of us. That's what the scripture
declares. First Peter 4.4. For a stranger in another country
has to be content with a stranger's fare. Think of this in light
of the Christian in this world. We're told in scripture and having
food and remnant, let us therewith be content. We're to be content
no matter where the Lord puts us. For the stranger in another
country has to be careful not to give offense to the government.
In Colossians, we're told this, walk in wisdom toward them that
are without redeem in the time. For the stranger in another country,
he has to ask his way. As believers in this world, we
cry out to God, just as the psalmist does in Psalm 5, verse 8. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness. Lead me, Lord, to this world.
Lead me, protect me, guide me, direct me. Because of mine enemies,
make thy way straight before my face. For a stranger in another country,
unless he conforms to the ways of the foreign country, he's
easily identified. Easily identified. Well, God's
people are identified by our speech, beloved, because we speak
of the things of Christ. We're easily identified. We're
easily identified by our speech. Peter was identified by his speech.
And after a while came unto him they that stood by and said to
Peter, surely thou art one of them, for thy speech betrayeth
thee. For the stranger in another country,
he's often struck with homesickness. The first few years that I moved
down here to be with my wife, Vicki, it was really hard. I was homesick for my family. You know, when you're away from
your family, thousands of miles away from the only people that you've
known, it can be difficult. It can be difficult. So the stranger
in a land is often homesick. Are you homesick for heaven? I've talked to several of you,
and I know you are, too. We're homesick for heaven, aren't we?
Oh, what a glorious day that'll be when we get home, beloved.
And again, home will only be home because our Savior's there,
eh? But we will get to see the other saints of God, too. Oh,
it'll be glorious, won't it? All the blood-bought saints of
God gathered together, gathered together, worshiping our great
King, Oh my, it'll be absolutely glorious. So a stranger in a country is
often struck with homesickness. Listen to what Paul wrote in
light of that. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire
to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. Paul went
through it too. He was homesick for heaven just
like we are. So we see then that the believer
in Christ is a citizen of a better country. And never forget, beloved,
that our present condition is just temporary. It's just temporary. Just temporary. We'll soon be
in glory with the Lord. And think of our great master
and leader. He was far more a stranger in this world than we are. Wasn't
he? Oh, he was. He had nowhere to
lay his head. He didn't know where to lay his
head. And God's gracious providence permits us multiplied earthly
blessings. But he does tell us not to be
of this world, doesn't he? He tells us that. Don't be of
this world. And remember, our time is short. The things of
this world will quickly pass away. All things that we see
will one day pass away. I was thinking of how 55 years
now I've lived on this earth. And those 55 years have flown
by. Now, I know for some of you, you've been here over 80 years
on this earth. Some over 70, some over 60. And I ask you, can you remember
your youth like it was just yesterday? Yeah. Like it was just yesterday. I
remember when they put my little girl in my arms. And now she's
29 years old. And it just went by like that.
Just flowing by. So think of how many things have
passed away and how many people have passed on since you've been
here, and think about how time flies. It slows down for no one,
doesn't it? Time doesn't slow down for anyone. No one at all. For the believer in Christ, again,
we seek a better country, a better place, where our Redeemer is. We're strangers in a strange
land, beloved. We're strangers in the strange
land. At one time, before we were born again by the Holy Spirit
of God, before Christ revealed himself to us, we clung to this
life, didn't we? I did. I know it's so for you. Everything we could get, we wanted
to get. We clung to it. Terrified of
death, I was. And the things of this world,
they were so important, but they're not important anymore. And think of this, the alien
and stranger and pilgrim in any land must be a citizen of some
other country. A stranger, an alien and a pilgrim
in any land must be a citizen of another country. They must
be. The believer professes, I'm a
stranger on this earth, but I have a home in heaven. By the grace
of God. By the grace of God. And one
day I'll be in the presence of my Savior. I'll be in the presence
of my Savior. I'll see face to face the one
who redeemed my soul. I'll see the one who shed his
blood for me. That's what the belief says.
I'll see the one who purchased the pardon of all my sins. Oh my. In this country, beloved, that
we seek, we've never seen it. Have we? We've never seen it,
but we know it's real and we long to be there. We long to
be there. We're born in a foreign land,
beloved. We're born in a foreign land and we seek a better country. Oh my, we seek to be in glory.
Some of our brothers and sisters are already there. Some of our
brothers and sisters are already there. We have a few more days
to toil and travel. And all of God's sheep, though,
are being led to the promised land. All of us. Being led to
the promised land, beloved, by the great shepherd of our souls,
the great bishop of our souls, the Lord Jesus Christ. And you
know what? Brother John, you said something
to me when I first got here. And I've not forgot this. John
said, my birthdays, I just look at every birthday as I'm getting
closer to being home with the Lord. Well, do you know what? Every passing day, beloved, brings
us closer to being at home with the Lord. Isn't that wonderful?
That's a good, we need to look at it that way. Wake up in the
morning, well, I'm a day closer to being with my king. Oh my,
it's wonderful, it's wonderful. And He will ever be our heavenly
guide, beloved. He was a cloud by day for the
Israelites and a pillar of fire by night which represents the
presence of God with His people and He never left them, did He?
He'll never leave us. He's always with us, beloved.
And we have a great cloud of witnesses before us, beloved,
which have gone on before us and let this comfort our souls
that our pilgrimage is all laid out for us. Do you know that?
It's all laid out for us. Just read the life of Joseph
like we've been going through in Sunday school. You'll find
out real quick. It's all laid out for us. It's wonderful. It's
wonderful. Oh my. And he's ever with us. And so
what comfort we can glean. You know the scripture says in
Psalm 37 verses 23 and 24 it says this. The steps of a good
man are ordered by the Lord. Now we know we're only good in
Christ. Nowhere, outside of Christ, we're not good. The steps of
a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his
way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for
the Lord upholdeth him with his hands. Praise God. And we know
that we're only good in Christ, being clothed in his perfect,
spotless righteousness, beloved. Oh, there be days of cloudy, Days as we walk through this
life. There'll be mountains we'll have to walk over. There'll be
valleys we go through. There'll be rivers we cross. There'll be days of sunshine
and joy as well as days of weeping and sorrow. But what peace we
can have and what peace we can glean knowing that our pilgrimage
is all laid out for us, beloved. Ordained by God. And you know
what else, too? We're blessed to be traveling
with other pilgrims. We're blessed to be traveling
with one another. We really are. And God has brought us together,
and we're traveling through this world, strangers and pilgrims.
And we're blessed to be traveling with other pilgrims, all born
again by the same Spirit, God's Holy Spirit, and all who seek
a better country, and they can relate They can relate to our
battle every day. Every day. Never forget you're
not alone. Number one, the Lord's with you. And number two, your
brothers and sisters are going through their pilgrimage in this
earth too, just like you are. Just like you are. I'm going
to close with this in 1 Corinthians 13, verses 12. It says here, For now we see through a glass
darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then
shall I know even as I am known. To God be the glory. Heavenly
Father, again we thank you for the comfort that we can find
in the scriptures, knowing that And as we're strangers and pilgrims
in this land, traveling through this land, we who are your people,
you are ever with us, carrying us, directing us, guiding us,
ever with us. Just like you were with the Israelites,
day and night, you're ever with us. And oh Lord, we seek a better
country. We long to be in thy presence,
Lord, but we know we have a few more days to toil. We know that
that day, that day that you have appointed for your people to
be in your presence, we will be in your presence, oh Lord.
Oh, we pray that you'd use this message to draw on your lost
people, your lost sheep, Lord, and that it bring glory and honor
to you in Jesus' name, amen.