I've entitled this message, The
Days of My Pilgrimage, from Genesis chapter 47. I'd like to begin
reading in verse 7. And Joseph brought in Jacob,
his father, and said him before Pharaoh, And Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob,
How old art thou? And Jacob said unto Pharaoh,
The days of the years of my pilgrimage are in hundred and thirty years.
Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and
have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my
fathers in the days of their pilgrimage." And Jacob blessed
Pharaoh and went out from before Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Now, I think that's very interesting.
I want you to remember who Pharaoh was. Pharaoh was the leader of
the world. Joseph reported to Pharaoh. Pharaoh was the most powerful
man in the earth. I mean, there wasn't anybody
that could compare with Pharaoh. We can't even imagine the power
this man had. And this passage of Scripture
says that it was Jacob who blessed Pharaoh. Hebrews chapter 7 verse
7 says, without contradiction, the less is blessed of the better. Jacob, because of the grace of
God, was in a whole lot better position than Pharaoh was, the
most powerful man in the universe. Pharaoh was a prince in this
world. But what is that in comparison
to being a prince with God? Can't be compared, can it? This
world does not realize this, but it is the servant of the
believer. I like thinking about that. Everything
that takes place, this world is the servant of the believer. Pharaoh, your one and only purpose
is to serve the interest of God's glory in God's people. You don't know that, but it's
true nonetheless, isn't it? Jacob blessed Pharaoh. I hope God will give us grace
to lay hold upon this. Now, believer, and I'm speaking
to every child of God, everything that has taken place
in your life, You know who brought it there? The Lord did. I don't care what it is. I don't
care how painful it is. The Lord brought this year away. And it was for your good. And his glory. Now you can be bitter about it.
You can complain about it. It is best. It's best. Isn't that wonderful
to know that? I mean, whatever the Lord has sent my way, everything,
there's good stuff as far as I can tell, bad stuff, but whatever
it's been, the Lord sent it. I couldn't help but think when
I was thinking about this concept, if that's the right word, I thought
about Shemai cursing David. He was cursing him. And Joab
said, you want me to go take his head off? You know what David
said? No, don't do that. The Lord said to him, curse David. The Lord told him to do it. Now,
the Lord is in control of everything. Now, is that, beloved, is that
not a reason to rejoice? Aren't you thankful? In everything
give thanks. In everything. For this, even this thing you're
having a hard time giving thanks for, this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you. That's wonderful. It's wonderful
to know the Lord is controlling everything. And Jacob was the
one who blessed Pharaoh. Now let's go on reading. And
Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old are you? And Jacob said unto Pharaoh,
The days of the years of my pilgrimage are in hundred and thirty years,
and here's his summary of the years of his life, few and evil,
have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained
unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the
days of their pilgrimage. Now, when he says this, he's
not simply saying I haven't lived as long as Isaac and Abraham.
That's not what he's saying at all. But he is saying I have
not attained to their life. Now, what's he mean by that?
You know, I'm going to show you here in just a moment, but you
know, you can look at believers, and there can be just a radical
difference in their life. Encouraging. Some honor Christ
in their conduct, in their attitude, in the things they say. Some
can be so discouraging. There's a big difference between
believers. And they're saved the same way. And one's not more saved than
the other. But yet there's a difference. And Jacob is talking about this.
Now, When Jacob gives a summary of his life, he says, I'm 130
years old. Few and evil have been the days
of my life. They've been filled with trouble, filled with sin.
That's the summary of my life. I've not attained to the life
of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac. Now turn back to Genesis 25.
Verse seven. And these are the days of the
years of Abraham's life, which he lived and hundred and three
score and 15 years. He lived to be 175 years old. Then Abraham gave up the ghost
and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years. Now, notice the of years is in
italics. That word full actually means
satisfied. It's not just talking about the
length of his life, he died a satisfied individual. Turn over to Genesis 35. This is about. Isaac's death. Verse 28. And the days of Isaac were 104
score years, he lived to be 180. And Isaac gave up the ghost and
died and was gathered unto his people being old and full of
days. That word full is the same one
we just read. It is satisfied. He died. Satisfied. His sons Esau and
Jacob buried him. Now, both of these men died satisfied
there. They Scripture point that they
had a good old age, full of full of years and so on. And they
died satisfied. Now, what you know, and Jacob
is saying, I'm not I'm not like that. I've not attained to whatever
it is they attained to. That's what he says. I've not
attained to that satisfaction. You know, Jacob was a fairly
getting from one mess into another, continuing his life. I mean,
he was always in trouble of some kind. He said, I've not attained
to the years of my father's. Now, Jacob. And Isaac and Abraham
were all satisfied to be saved by Christ, that Jacob was satisfied
with Christ. And. In him, and this is the promise
of God to every believer, This is God's promise to you. In Him,
in the Lord Jesus Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily, and you are complete. Now, it doesn't get any better
than that. You can't get any more saved than you are. You
can't get any more holy than you are. You can't get any more
accepted than you are. You can't get any more justified
than you already are. Your salvation cannot be enhanced. Now, Jacob believed that, Isaac
believed that, and Abraham believed that. They were all saved the
same way, and they were satisfied to be saved that way, too. Abraham
rejoiced in what I'm talking about. Remember that scripture,
Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad. Abraham
was happy to be saved by Christ. Isaac was happy to be saved by
Christ. They were sinners saved by grace. They rejoiced in the
same gospel. Yet it says here that there was
a difference. What was it that Jacob didn't attain to? Well, they had something that
he didn't have. Satisfaction. Now, where do you and I fit in
here? They had something that he personally did not have, and
when he was giving a summary of his life, he said, I haven't
attained to what they have. And I don't have any doubt that
what this is a reference to has something to do with what Paul
said. before he died. You remember
his testimony about himself before he died? He said, Paul the Apostle
said, I fought a good fight. I finished my course. I kept
the faith. Now, if you knew you were going
to die tonight. You knew this was your last.
Evening here on Earth. Could you say, and I'm not asking
you to answer me, but I want you to think about it. Could
you say, I fought a good fight? I finished my course. I've kept
the faith. Do you know Paul died a satisfied
man, not with a bunch of regrets? Here's something that I don't
want to do. I don't want to come to death and have all these regrets. of what it didn't do or what
it should have done. Now, I realize we're always going
to have regrets. How many things have you said
that you wish you'd never said? I mean, talking about plenty
of things, plenty of things. How many things have you done
that you wish you'd never done? But even all that being said,
the Lord's in control of it. So in that sense, I'm not even
talking about regrets in that sense. But I do want to be able
to to face death without regretting my life. I want to be able to
say the same thing Paul did. I fought a good fight. Is it
possible for a human being to say that? Sure it is by the grace
of God. Sure it is. And everybody in this room ought
to say that. Now, Abraham died satisfied. Without regrets. Full of years,
full of satisfaction. And, you know, I think of Abraham.
He's such an example. What I was thinking about him
dying in satisfaction. Look at the difference, say,
between Abraham and Lot. We know Lot was a believer, don't
we? There's no question about that. The scripture talks of
just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. But
that righteous man and hearing their unlawful deeds, he vexed
his righteous soul from day to day. Now, that's God's testimony
concerning Lot. But you look at the difference
between Abraham and Lot. What about over there in Genesis
chapter 13 when Lot and Abraham had to be separated because of
their cattle? And Abraham just said, take your
pick. Lot was grasping for the world.
He looked at the well-watered plains of Sodom and he thought,
this is best for me. And that's all he cared about
was himself. He made that decision and Abraham
just let Whatever happens, you go that side, I'll go that side.
He bowed before the sovereign God. He waited on the Lord. He wasn't grasping for this world.
He was, take whatever you want. He demonstrated that meek, quiet
spirit. And he died by the grace of God
that he was different than Lot. He was, wasn't he? I mean, you
can't read those two men's lives and not see a stark difference.
I mean, Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. Lot ended up settling
in Sodom. And when he was talking to the
people in Sodom about how the Lord was going to come and judge
that place, the Scripture says he seemed to them as one that
mocked. I mean, they couldn't take anything he said seriously
because of the way he conducted himself. He seemed as one that
mocked. Who's going to listen to this
guy? Oh, I'm sure you really fear the Lord the way you've
been acting the last... You see what I'm saying regarding
him? And then Abraham, you know, what a difference. Now, Jacob
says, I've not attained to the years of the days of the life
of my fathers. Jacob's conduct throughout his
life was not as honorable as Abraham's or even Isaac's, and
he knew it. Now, listen to me. If Christ all, then live like it. Is there really only one thing
needful? Do you really believe that? Then live like it. I don't want myself, I don't
want you to come to the end of your days with regrets. I want to be one of these people
who dies satisfied. I've fought a good fight. I've
finished my course. I've kept the faith. And let
me say this, there's not any reason that every one of us cannot
die just like that by the grace of God. Paul said, I can do all
things through Christ, which strengthens me. So don't be discouraged
about this. Be zealous about this being you. I want to be like Abraham and
Isaac rather than Jacob in that sense. I want to die full of
years. I want to live a life that glorifies
Christ and encourages his people, not one that merely takes up
space and discourages God's people. And I've asked this question
so many times, I want us all to ask it to ourselves right
now. Am I personally an encouragement or a discouragement to God's
people? When they see me, the way I conduct
myself, the way I run my life, are they encouraged or are they
discouraged? If everybody in this church was
a member exactly like me, what kind of place would this place
be? Now, we all ought to ask ourselves that question, shouldn't
we? I want to be Like Abraham and Isaac, I don't want to be
like Jacob. And notice next, how Jacob spoke
of his life as a pilgrimage. Verse 9, and Jacob said unto
Pharaoh, now Jacob was aware that his days had not lived up
to Abraham's and Isaac's. I mean, he was being honest about
it. But he spoke of his life as a pilgrimage and Jacob said
unto Pharaoh, the days of the years of my pilgrimage are 130
years. Few and evil have been the days
of the years of my life and have not attained into the days of
the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. Jacob knew he was just passing
through. Jacob knew he was a stranger
and Jacob knew he was a pilgrim here. This world that he lived
in was not his home. Now, I'm looking at some young
people, quite a few young people, and you can't imagine looking
at life as being just a pilgrimage where you're just passing through
for a temporary time. But understand this, it is. What
is your life? It's even a vapor, the Scripture
says, a vapor that appears for just a little while, and then
it's gone. Every believer is a stranger
and a pilgrim in this world. That's what Jacob testified regarding
himself. My days here are the days of a pilgrimage. That means
I'm just here temporarily. This world really isn't my home.
I'm not putting down stakes here. I know I'm just passing through
for a temporary time and I'm going to be gone soon enough.
This world is not my home. Every believer is a pilgrim in
that sense. Now, by the world, I'm talking
about what John warned us of when I say this world is not
my home. In a sense, I mean, the earth is the Lord's and the
fullness thereof. and David dwell there, and everything
belongs to the Lord, and in that sense, it belongs to me too.
So, when I'm talking about this world is not my home, and I'm
just passing through, and I'm a pilgrim, and I'm a stranger
here, I'm talking about that world that John spoke of in 1
John chapter 2, when he says, Love not the world, neither the
things that are in the world. For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, you know what that is. cover
so many things. The desires and cravings of fallen
sinful nature. The lust of the eyes. That's
not just talking about seeing something and wanting it. That's
talking about being controlled by what other people see. It's
the fear of man that's what it's talking about. The fear of man
being controlled by what other people think. And the pride of
life, self-righteousness, is not of the Father, but of the
world. And the world passes away in the lust thereof, but he that
doeth the will of the Father endures forever. Now, he said,
Love not the world, neither the things of the world. And he went
on to say that if any man loved the world, if I love this world,
that hates my God, that hates my gospel. Now, love not the
world, this is not just talking about Like I said, I love the
earth. I love this planet. I love God's
creation. It belongs to him. I love his
creatures. I love the church. I love his people. I love my
family. I'm thankful for that. I love
men. That's my first reason for preaching
the gospel. But the reason I preach the gospel
is because I love people. I really do. I love the men of this world
in that sense. So when he's talking about loving
of the world, he's talking about that world that does not believe
the gospel. You know, I hate the world in
that sense. I hate this world that hates my God. I hate this
world that believes in salvation by works and doesn't believe
the salvation of the Lord. I hate this world, the philosophies
of this world, the maxims of this world, the values of this
world. I hate this world. I really do. I don't love the
world. I really don't. Neither does any other believer.
And John says, if you do love the world, the love of the Father
is not in you. Now, we do hate the world and
we can't feel comfortable here, can we? We're just passing through.
You don't feel like you're one of them. You feel uncomfortable
and you want to be out of their company. Love not the world. I'm a stranger and I don't make
as my companions those people who do not love my God. What
the world loves, I do not love. Now turn over to 1 Peter 1. Jacob
speaks of this life as being a pilgrimage. 1 Peter 1. Verse 1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
and look who he's writing to. to the strangers scattered throughout
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Who are these
strangers? Those who are elect according
to the foreknowledge, the forelove of God the Father through the
sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling
of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you and peace be
multiplied. And when he writes, he's writing to strangers. And the kingdom of Christ is
not a worldly kingdom. He said, my kingdom is not of
this world, if my kingdom were of this world, then would my
servants fight, that I would not be delivered hence to the
Jews, but my kingdom is not from hence. Now, the reason we're
strangers in this world, let me, as a believer, don't you
feel like a stranger here? I mean, you don't feel like this
is your home, do you? You don't feel comfortable. And
I realize that there's part of our flesh that loves life. I
realize that. But I also realize this, that
I look forward to being in the presence of my Redeemer. That's
home to me. That's my city. That's where
I want to be, in the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
I'm not of this world. Don't feel comfortable here.
I'm a stranger here. I'm a pilgrim here. I'm just
passing through. Now, the reason we're strangers in this world
is we're not of this world. Now, by nature, we're of this
world, but by grace, we're not of this world. Turn to John,
Chapter 15. Verse 18. If the world hate you, you know
that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world,
the world would love his own, but because you're not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hateth. Remember the word that I've spoken
unto you. that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than
his Lord. If they persecuted me, they'll also persecute you.
If they kept my saying, this will they keep yours also. But
all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake,
because they have not, they know not him that sent me. Look over
in John 17. Look what our Lord says in this
great high priestly prayer for his people. He says, I've manifested
thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. Dine they were and thou gavest
in me, and they have kept thy word. Look at verse 9. I pray
for them. Talking about his elect, those
strangers scattered, his people, those who believe. I pray for
them. I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast
given me. For they are thine. Look in verse 11. And now I'm
no more in the world, but these are in the world. Here we are
sitting here right now. These are in the world. And I
come to thee Holy Father, keep to thine own name those whom
thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are. While I
was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those that
thou gavest me, I have kept, and none of them is lost but
the son of perdition, that the scriptures might be fulfilled.
Look 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. We're not trying to be in a monastery or
trying to just separate ourselves from the world, not have any
influence with the world. We want to preach the gospel
to every creature. He says, I'm not praying that you take them
out of the world, but that you should keep them from evil. They are
not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Now, that's
why I'm a stranger here. That's why I'm a pilgrim here.
That's why I'm just passing through. I'm not of the world by grace. I'm not of this world. I'm of God. He that's of God,
heareth God's words, you therefore hear them not, he said, because
you are not of God. Now, understand this. The life
of faith is the life of a stranger and a pilgrim here. And if my
faith doesn't make me a stranger here, I cannot be said to have
real faith. Now, turn with me to Hebrews
11. I want you to look at this passage with me. This is so prominent in the Scripture. Hebrews 11, beginning in verse
8. By faith, Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive
for an inheritance, obeyed and he went out, not knowing whether
he went. By faith, he sojourned. in the
land of promise. That means he lived as a pilgrim,
as a stranger. He didn't put stakes down there. He just sojourned in the land
of promise as in a strange country, a foreign country, dwelling in
tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same
promise. For he looked for a city which had foundations, whose
builder and maker is God. He wasn't looking for a city
here. He was looking for a city somewhere else. Look in verse
13. These all died in faith. Every believer, they all died
in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen
them afar off, they were persuaded of them and embraced them and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Now, see what their faith did
to them? It made them confess that they were strangers, they
were foreigners, pilgrims just passing through, waiting for
another country, a better country. Now, it says they didn't receive
the promises in their experience. God said, this land is yours.
In their experience, they never received the promises. And what
that tells me is I live Right now, in this world, by faith,
not having received or experienced the promises. Now, God says that
I am perfect, complete in Christ, without sin,
wholly unblameable and unprovable, without spot, wrinkle or any
such thing, without blemish. If Christ died for me, all my
sins are gone. His glorious righteousness covers
me. His Spirit is within me. In God's
sight, I am holy. Now, that's what the Word of
God declares. Reckon yourselves to be dead
indeed to sin. If God says it, you are dead
to sin. Now, when I look at myself, do I see that? Can I look at myself and see
that I'm holy and unblameable, without sin, perfect in God's
sight? Can I see that? Of course I can't
see that. Matter of fact, as a matter of
fact, all I see in myself is sin. Even the quote, good things,
sin. Do I believe that I'm Holy and
perfect and righteous in God's sight? Yes, I do. I believe it by faith. I don't
see it by looking at myself, but I believe it by faith. Now,
that's what he says when they did not receive the promises. These all died in faith, not
having received the promises, but they saw them afar off. And
isn't that what faith is? They saw them afar off, and they
were persuaded of them. I am persuaded. I really believe
that Jesus Christ the Lord makes me perfect in God's sight. I
really believe that. Not only am I persuaded of them,
I embrace this. You know what that means? I hug
up to it as my only hope. This is good news to me. This
is the gospel. I mean, I embrace this. I rejoice
in this. Thank God for it. They embraced them, and what
did that do? That caused them to confess that
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say
such things, verse 14, declare plainly that they seek a country. And it's not here. It's not here. That's not the country I'm seeking.
I'm looking forward to getting out of here. Now, I'm thankful
for the time I've got here. May God give me grace to be like
Abraham and die with my life full of years rather than like
Jacob where he says, few and evil have been the days of the
years of my pilgrimage. While I'm here, I want to live a life
that honors and glorifies Christ. Oh, I want that so bad. I want
to hear him say to me, well done, thou good and faithful servant.
Now, I realize that in Christ I am. It has been well done,
good and faithful. I want Him to say it to me, too.
I want Him to say it to me. Well done, thou good and faithful
servant. If you love somebody, you crave pleasing them, don't
you? If you love them, you want to
please them. You want them to be pleased with you. And that's
what the believer... I want the Lord Jesus Christ,
I want Him to be pleased with me. Somebody said, well, he's only
pleased in Christ. I know that. And I believe that. And I believe
that Christ's righteousness is the only reason he'd be pleased.
I wouldn't be pleased with me. I'm a child. There's a relationship
there. A relationship. Now, they that
declare such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Verse
15, And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from
which they came out, they might have had opportunity to have
returned. You know, I see the world for
what it is, and if I wanted to, I reckon I could go after it.
I don't want to, though. Christ is better. I'd rather
be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in
the tents of wickedness. I really would. One thing, if
I desired the Lord, and that will I seek after, that I may
dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold
the beauty of the Lord. and to inquire in his temple. Our desires for a better country,
verse 16, 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. Our citizenship is in
heaven. Now, with all that in mind, I
want to close by looking at three different scriptures. First,
turn to Colossians chapter three. I'm probably going to read this
whole chapter because I think I need to. Colossians chapter
three. Verse one. If you then be risen with Christ. Seek those things which are above. Where Christ saith on the right
hand of God, set your affection. Notice that's singular. Set your
affection. On things above. Not on things
on the earth, for you are dead. Go out to Lexington Cemetery.
How concerned are they about the stuff that's going on right
now? It's meaningless to admit that.
Utterly meaningless. You died with Christ, you're
dead to this world. Reckon yourselves to be dead
indeed to sin. If God says you're dead to sin,
you are dead to sin. So reckon yourselves to be dead
to sin. You're dead. And your life is hid with Christ
in God. When Christ, who is our life,
shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory. So what are we to do? Mortify
therefore your members, put to death your members which are
upon the earth. fornication, uncleanness, inordinate
affection, evil concupiscence, which is desire, and covetousness,
which is idolatry, for which things sake the wrath of God
cometh on the children of disobedience, into which you also walked sometimes
when you lived in them. But now you also have put off
these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication
out of your mouth. Why not one to another, seeing
that you put off the old man with his deeds? And they put
on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image
of him that created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond or
free, but Christ is all and in all. Now, in light of that put
on, therefore, is the elect of God, holy and beloved, vows of
mercies. Are you ambitious to be a merciful person? Kindness. humbleness of mind, meekness,
long-suffering, forbearing one another and forgiving one another.
That means putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If any man hath a quarrel against
any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all
these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness
or maturity or completeness. Let the peace of God rule in
your hearts, to the which you also are called in one body,
and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and
the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto
your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your
wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents
in all things, for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke
not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants,
obey in all things your masters, according to the flesh, not with
eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing
God. And whatsoever you do, do it
heartily as to the Lord, not unto men, knowing that of the
Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance. For you serve
the Lord Christ, but he that doeth wrong shall receive for
the wrong which he hath done. And there's no respect of persons.
Isn't that a wonderful passage of Scripture? Turn over to First
Peter, Chapter two. Verse 11, Dearly beloved, I beseech you
as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly 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, you and I have that which
wars against setting our affection on things above. It's called
fleshly lusts and desires, which literally war against the soul. And Peter says abstain from them.
Now, here's the big question. How? How can you just, you know,
I've found this. I found this that there's never
been in my experience. Up to this point, one time when
I tried to resist temptation. And succeeded. At least in my
mind and heart, there's never been one time where I've I've
whipped it and I've held it down. The only way. I can abstain. Just say no to sin. OK. The only way. And I know this
is the truth, the only way I can abstain from fleshly lusts. Is by looking to Christ. That's
it. You look to Christ. And they. They take the background, you
try to hold them down, you try to beat them. And they'll win
every time. It's faith in Christ. That's the only answer to that.
Look to the Lamb of God. Only in seeing His beauty do
these fleshly lusts become so ugly. Look in 1 Peter 1.17. And if you call on the Father,
I'm doing that right now, calling on the Father. And if you call
on the Father who, without respect of persons, judges according
to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning, your
pilgrimage, your passing through. Here's how to pass the time.
Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. The fear of God. Now, this the scripture says,
happy is the man, the fear of the Lord. This is not talking
about you're waiting for Him to get you and you're scared.
You're just walking around waiting for Him to smash you. That's
not what the fear of the Lord is. That's bondage. It has nothing
to do with the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is that
reverential awe of His person that makes you afraid of sin. You know why I'm afraid of sin? And I am afraid of sin. I'm scared
to death of sin. I can tell you why. Because I'm
scared of the death of the Lord. I'm afraid of Him. And that makes
me afraid of sin in that sense. I'm afraid of sin, and I'm afraid to look anywhere but the Lord
Jesus Christ. I'm afraid to. I'm not looking
anywhere. My only hope is Him, and I'm
scared to look anywhere else. And you know, this is not an
unhappy life, walking in the fear of the Lord. It's a happy
life. It's a respect. It's a reverence
in all of this person. He is a glorious person of walking
in the fear of the Lord. And that's how to pass your time
here. You're sojourning here for just a while. You've just
got a little while, none of that much longer. Pass the time of
your sojourning here in fear. I am a stranger. and the pilgrim, I really don't
feel comfortable in this world. You know, when I'm around unbelievers,
I don't feel comfortable around them. This is temporary, but
I am looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. Isn't it going to be glorious to be in the presence of Christ
to see his beauty, to look upon him without shame. Isn't it going
to be glorious to be perfectly conformed to his image and to
not have to deal with sin anymore, to not have to deal with unbelief
anymore? And to be around nobody but people
who absolutely love the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm looking for
a city who's builder and maker. is God. Now, in the meantime,
I want to pass the time of my sojourning here in fear. And I sure would like to be like
Abraham, looking at my life and dying satisfied rather than Jacob,
who said, few and evil have been the days of the years of my pilgrimage. May God enable us all to, by
his grace, be like Abraham. Let's pray together.