Go with me, if you would, back
to Hebrews 11. Hebrews chapter 11. This chapter begins by mentioning
some different brethren. Verse 4 mentions Abel. Verse 5 mentions Enoch. Verse 7 mentions Noah. Verse 8 mentions Abraham. Verse 9 mentions Isaac and Jacob. Verse 11 mentions Sarah. Verse 12 says through Isaac About
halfway into the verse, it says, a number of brethren, so many
as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand, which is by
the seashore innumerable. All of God's brethren from all
generations, a number as the stars of the sky and the sand
of the seashore. all of God's people from every
generation in time. Now look at verse 13. It says, these all died in faith. All of them. You think about
some of these men. You think about Noah and you
think about Abraham. These all died in faith, not
having received the promises. You say, well, they had, you
know, God spoke to them. Well, God speaks to us. They
had God's word. We have God's word. They had
God's promise. We have God's promise. These
all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off
and were persuaded of them. and embraced them. And this is what they confessed,
all of them. They all confessed that they were strangers and
pilgrims on this earth. Strangers and pilgrims on this
earth. That's what all of God's people
have or will confess concerning their relationship with this
world. The longer they go, in the faith
that God gives concerning Christ, and the more faith that we receive,
what that faith will reveal to us is, we are strangers and pilgrims
on this earth. Something just does not fit well. Something does not fall in right with this world, with this earth. Now, why do all of them say that? And why do all of God's people
see themselves to be that way? Verse 14 says, for they that
say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. They seek a country. Well, aren't
you in a country? Yes. Just not the one I want
to be in. Aren't you standing on an earth
already? What do you mean a new earth,
a new heaven and a new earth? Aren't you standing on an earth
already? Yes, just not the one I want to be standing on. Verse 14 says they that say such
things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if
they had been mindful of that country from whence they came
out, They might have had opportunity to have returned. Had God given them the desires
of their flesh, then they might have returned right back to what
they were pulled out of. But thank God he will not do
that. There's a new creation in there and there's a new heart
and a new desire. Verse 16 says, but now they desire
a better country. That is in heavenly. Wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared
for them a city. They are seeking a new country.
They desire a better country. It's one where God is not ashamed
to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city. Our Lord said in John 14 to all
of his chosen, redeemed, called people, he said, I go to prepare
a place for you. They hated to see him leave or
please don't leave. He said, I must go. The comforter
must come to you. And I'm going to prepare a place
for you. And he said, if you see me go, if you watch me go
up, I will come again. If you see me go, that's your
evidence and that's your assurance that I will come again and receive
you to myself. Revelation 21 calls this New
Jerusalem. It calls this place that the
Lord went to prepare for his people, New Jerusalem, the Holy
City. Doesn't that sound nice? Right now we all live in Sin
City. Las Vegas is not the only sin
city. Kingsport, Tennessee is sin city. But second, Peter three says
there is a place that the Lord has created. It is a new earth
with new heavens. And there is no sin there, only
righteousness. What is righteousness? Righteousness
is a person. For everything there is Christ. Everything there. The walls are
Christ. The buildings are Christ. The
sun is Christ. Everything there is Christ. All that's there is righteousness. It's a righteous city. Where
do you live? Righteous city. That's what all
of God's people are going to be saying real soon. Throughout the book of Isaiah,
our Lord said, It is a place, it's a city where animals don't
hurt each other. How many times did he say that?
Animals do not hurt each other. Everybody gets along. Nobody is sad. Isn't that what
he said? Nobody is sad. Nobody cries. Because nobody feels lonely.
Nobody feels guilty. Nobody feels angry. Everybody's at ease. Everybody
is at ease, finally enjoying rest from all their labors as
God has rested from his. And it's all because Christ is
there, the Prince of Peace, the Prince of Peace. Christ is there
and Christ is all there. That's what I'm looking forward
to. I'm looking forward to being in a place where Christ is there. And Christ is all there. Christ is all everywhere, but
I'm looking forward to being in a in a place where everyone
there acknowledges that. Everybody acknowledges that that's
so. Once a child of God is persuaded of all this. In Christ and embraces
all of this and desires this and looks for this and longs
for this. Once a child of God has that
persuasion brought to him or her. This place right here is
no longer that child's continuing city. It's just not the longer
we go, the Lord weans us away from this world. It's a slow
and steady weaning, but it is a true weaning. All of God's
people say they all end up saying this is not my home. This is
not my home. I'm traveling through with a
tent. It doesn't matter where I live. It doesn't matter. You
know, I'm traveling with a tent. I'm trying to get from point
A to point B, and I won't be satisfied until I awake with
his likeness. I'm just a stranger in a pilgrim
here. That's what God's people feel
about themselves, and that's what the word of God acknowledges
them to be. Look at 1 Peter 1 with me. 1 Peter 1. Verse 1, it says, Peter, an apostle
of Jesus Christ. Who are you writing to, Peter?
He said, I'm writing to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia elect according to the
foreknowledge of God, the father, that's who I'm writing to the
elect of God almighty, the elect that God chose before the foundation
of the world. Elect verse two goes on to say
through sanctification of the spirit, that means the spirit
lays hold of them and sets them apart. Sanctification is a setting
apart. What do they set apart unto?
Obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. They are
set apart to be washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
They are set apart to the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice
that. How wonderful is that? They are
set apart unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus
Christ. His works, his righteousness,
his blood, his redemption. And here's what he has to say.
Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and
that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept
by the power of God. through faith unto salvation,
ready to be revealed in the last time. He said, I'm writing to
the strangers scattered throughout who were elected according to
the foreknowledge of God, elected, chosen to receive mercy in the
blood of Jesus Christ. who are being kept through their
pilgrimage. They're all being kept. Through
this pilgrimage. By the power of God. Until the
moment comes that he calls them all home. And he reveals to him
the inheritance. Of glory that has been reserved
for him, he said, that's who I'm writing to. Look at chapter
two, verse 11, first Peter two, verse 11. He said, dearly beloved. I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims, strangers and pilgrims. He said, everything I'm saying
to you, I'm saying it to you as the strangers and pilgrims
that you are. Everything that this word has
to say in the declaration of good news, all of it is to the
strangers and pilgrims. All of it is to the souls that
are passing through, just looking and hoping and waiting for that
better country where Christ dwells. And this is what all of the word
has to say to them. Turn with me over to Ephesians
chapter two. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1. And you hath he quickened who
were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in time past you walked
according to the course of this world. This world. According to the prince of the
power of the air. the spirit that now worketh in
the children of disobedience. among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich
in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace
you are saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages
to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast, For we are his workmanship created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them. Verse 11 says, wherefore remember
that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called
uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in
the flesh made by hands, that at that time you were without
Christ. Being aliens from the Commonwealth
of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having
no hope and without God in the world. That's what God's people
feel about themselves. That's what God's people feel
about themselves in this world. That's what they feel their natural
condition is before God. That's what they feel they deserve
before God. God's people know that that's
what their sin has done to them and left them with. As they are
right here in this world, strangers, pilgrims, aliens, outcasts. to God. But to every soul who feels that
way, this is what the gospel has to say to that soul. Look
at verse 13. But now, but God, yes, that was
your case with God. Most definitely. But God did
something about it. Greatest news of the gospel.
but God did something about it. You are correct. That is what
you were in your flesh, but God did something about it. Verse
13, but now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off
are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Oh, what the blood of
Christ did for us. We're about to read it right
here. If you, you know, we've all read Ephesians two, maybe
what a thousand times. See if you enter into this, like
you never had before. Verse 14 says, for he is our
peace, who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle
wall of partition between us, having abolished in his 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 in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby,
and came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to
them that were nigh. For through him we both have
access by one Spirit unto the Father." Verse 19 says, Now therefore,
You are no more strangers and foreigners to God. You were strangers and foreigners
to God, but God did something about it. And in what he did
for you, you are not strangers and foreigners anymore to God. Verse 19 says, now, therefore,
you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens
with the saints and of the household of God and are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ himself
being the chief cornerstone in whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom you
also are builded together for inhabitation of God through the
Spirit. In Christ the gospel cries. In Christ, in the blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ, You have been made to be fellow citizens with
the saints and of the household of God. You are of the household
of God. And once that announcement comes
to the heart of a child of God, this home is no more. Once a
child of God hears that, this home is no more. Listen to this. Turn with me to John 17. John 17, verse 4. Our Lord, praying to the Father,
He said, I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished
the work which thou gavest me to do. Salvation is finished.
It is finished. He said, and now, O Father, glorify
thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with
thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto
the men which thou gavest me out of the world." Did Christ
die for the whole world? He said, I have manifested thy
name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world, thine
they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word. Verse nine, he said, I pray for
them. I pray not for the world. but for them which thou hast
given me, for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine
are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more
in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee.
Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast
given me, that they may be one as we are." Look down at verse
14. I have given them thy word, and
the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even
as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest
take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them
from the evil. They are not of the world, even
as I am not of the world. Sanctify them, set them apart
through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Look at verse 22. He said, in
the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them that they may
be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they
may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that
thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also
whom thou hast given me be with me where I am. that they may
behold my glory, which thou hast given me. For thou lovest me
before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the
world hath not known thee, but I have known thee, and these
have known that thou hast sent me, and I have declared unto
them thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou
hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." Our Lord said,
They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world. He
said, Father, keep them, keep them looking, keep them hoping,
keep them trusting until the time comes for all of them to
be gathered together with us in our eternal home. Keep them,
encourage them, strengthen them. That's what God's Word does for
us as pilgrims and strangers on this earth. It keeps us, it
encourages us, it strengthens us. That's what the Word does.
I pray that's what this message will do. This message came from me being
so blessed by an article that I put in our bulletin this morning
by Brother Don Fortner. I don't know if you had a chance
to read the bulletin, The article is titled Good News
for Pilgrims. And that's what the gospel is,
it's good news for pilgrims. That's what it is. It's encouragement
for pilgrims. It's a continual reminder of
what Christ did for us and what Christ has secured for us and
what Christ has finished for us and what Christ has settled
for us. What Christ has reserved for
us. That's what the gospel is. It's encouragement. It's good
news for pilgrims. Just listen to this article.
He wrote, here is good news for weary, heavy hearted pilgrims. Does that describe anybody here?
Weary, heavy hearted pilgrims. Here is good news for weary,
heavy hearted pilgrims from our homeland in heaven. Do you have
heartaches and troubles too numerous to count? Every stranger in Pilgrim can
relate to this. Every stranger in Pilgrim. Heartaches
and troubles too numerous to count. He said it will do you
good to receive some good news from home. And as most of you know, our
Lord called him home a couple of years ago and As I read this, I couldn't help
but think, he being dead, yet speaketh. He right now is experiencing
what he only wrote just a couple of years ago. But he said, it'll do you good
to receive some good news from home, and here it is. He said,
the Lord our God is still on the throne. Wouldn't you love to get a word
from Glory? We see Him. Here's some encouragement. The
Lord our God is still on the throne. For all of eternity,
God's saints are going to be crying, praise the Lord for full
salvation. God still reigns upon the throne.
All of eternity. He is reigning there right now. He is reigning there right now.
And our brother wrote, our Savior is still in heaven. preparing
a place for you, representing you, and interceding for you. Nothing has changed. Nothing
has changed. The promises are being kept.
The word is standing sure. Your hope is just as alive today
as it was the first day you heard about it. He said, there are many in heaven
just like you and me already. Really? Strangers and pilgrims? Sinners? Really? He said there
is. There is a fallen David. A doubting
Thomas. There is an angry Moses there. A feeble Philip there. An impetuous,
that means a hasty spouting off without thinking about it, an
impetuous Peter there. and a righteous lot there. He
said, all are there by grace alone. Remember that, remember
that as you become more and more disgusted by what you see in
yourself. As you keep going through this
pilgrimage saying, I'm just collecting more dirt and more dirt, I'm
not getting any cleaner. Remember that we did not gain
an entrance into glory by our own works at the beginning of
this pilgrimage. And we're not going to gain an
entrance into glory by our works at the end of this pilgrimage.
All are there by grace alone. Through the merits of Christ's
blood and righteousness. That's what saved you, that's
what called you, that's what'll keep you. And soon, our brother
said, the Lord Jesus Christ will come again to take you there.
Very soon, you'll get there. Christ will get you there. Christ
will come and gather you and take you when it's your turn,
as he has done for so many brethren before us. He will do it in John
14 verses one through three. Our Lord said, let not your heart
be troubled. You believe in God, believe also
in me. In my father's house or many
mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you to myself. That where
I am there, you may be also. That's what you call good news
for pilgrims. Good news for pilgrims. That's
what will keep us going. I'll never forget this. I say that, but I will if the
Lord takes my mind from me. But as long as the Lord doesn't
take my mind from me. Most of you know that the Lord
called my mother home from cancer from cancer in 2000. And once
it became very apparent that the Lord was going to call her
home, I remember about two weeks before the Lord called her, she
and I were sitting in our living room and she was in her chair
and I was on the couch watching TV or something. And she was
reading the word and she just started busting out laughing.
And I looked over at her reading the scripture and I said, what? And she said, nothing. And she
just smiled and I said, what is it? She said, no, nothing. I said, come on, tell me, what
is it? She looked at me and said, I'm getting excited. I'm getting excited. I'm getting excited to go. That's comfort for pilgrims and
strangers. When our time comes, he'll let
us get excited. His grace will be sufficient.
And it's something to get excited about. I'll tell you that. Something
to get excited about. All right.