Strangers and Pilgrims

13 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 confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb 11:12-13 (KJV)

All of these people confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth. They knew who God was and they confessed that they did not belong here. They all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. We have promises that might be afar off or they might be right around the corner. Do we have faith enough to confess that when someone talks to us that we tell them we are strangers and pilgrims in a land we do not belong to? I don’t want to look, talk, act like or even resemble something that belongs to this land, because I do not belong here. So, what does stranger mean?

Strangers

Greek Word: πάροικος

Transliteration: paroikos

Phonetic Pronunciation:par'-oy-kos

Vine's Words: Sojourn, Sojourner, Sojourning

English Words used in KJV:

stranger 2 sojourn 1 foreigner 1 [Total Count: 4]

from <G3844> (para) and <G3624> (oikos); having a home near, i.e. (as noun) a by-dweller (alien resident) :- foreigner, sojourn, stranger.

Do you look like a foreigner or do you look like a local in this world? We could all answer that question about each other, but are we willing to answer it honestly about ourselves. What about pilgrims? What does the word pilgrim mean here?

Pilgrim

Greek Word: παρεπίδημος

Transliteration: parepidēmos

Phonetic Pronunciation:par-ep-id'-ay-mos

Vine's Words: Pilgrim, Sojourn, Sojourner, Sojourning

English Words used in KJV:

pilgrim 2 stranger 1 [Total Count: 3]

from <G3844> (para) and the base of <G1927> (epidemeo); an alien alongside, i.e. a resident foreigner :- pilgrim, stranger.

A resident foreigner. A foreigner that has to stay around for a period of time, but a foreigner none the less. Are you a foreigner that has adopted the ways of the land or are you a foreigner faithful to your true home? Have you learned to love the things of the land that you dwell in or do they make you want your home even more?

Pilgrim

PIL'GRIM, n. [L. peregrinus. Gu.L. peragro, to wander, palor.]

1. A wanderer; a traveler; particularly, one that travels to a distance from his own country to visit a holy place, or to pay his devotion to the remains of dead saints. [See Pilgrimage.]

2. In Scripture, one that has only a temporary residence on earth. Heb 11.

Stranger

STRANGER, n.

1. A foreigner; one who belongs to another country. Paris and London are visited by strangers from all the countries of Europe.

2. One of another town, city, state or province in the same country. The Commencements in American colleges are frequented by multitudes of strangers from the neighboring towns and states.

3. One unknown.

4. One unacquainted.

My child is yet a stranger to the world.

5. A guest; a visitor.

6. One not admitted to any communication or fellowship.

Sojourner

SO'JOURNER, n. A temporary resident; a stranger or traveler who dwells in a place for a time. We are strangers before thee and sojourners, as all out father were. 1 Chron 29

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 1 Peter 2:11 (KJV)

Peter says “I beseech you as stranger and pilgrims”. It’s almost like he knew we were going to be on a journey. He did, and he knew the dangers of the journey. On this journey we will encounter many wants and desires. There will be many shiny objects along the way that will take our attention off the path we were put on. Peter said to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. These harmless little things in this strange peaceful land don’t seem like they can hurt us. THEY WAR WITH THE SOUL! This world should seem strange to you. You should look at everything as if it might be a snake or a poisonous fruit, because many of the things that Christians partake in are just those things. They are at war with your soul. If you are saved then your soul is right with God. If these things war against the soul, what if they win? There is always a loser in real wars against good and evil. There is never a stalemate here. This is another reason, of the many, that Christians are called to live a sanctified, disciplined, obedient, holy life. You cannot do this if you are a local native here. Think of it like this. There used to be many children who would grow up in small town America. They would hear on the TV or the radio about other places that sounded so fascinating to them. Some of these children dreamed their whole childhood of going somewhere else, anywhere but where they were had to be better. When they grew up some moved off as soon as they could, to only find out there was the same thing where they went or that place was even worse than the place they were at. The point is, that most of the children who lived this way spent their childhood dreaming of somewhere else or they dreamed of being something else. There is nothing else in this world but world. We, as Christians need to be like these children, only we are guaranteed to find something better if we stay on our journey. If we get comfortable where we are and sit down and sit too long we will forget about our journey. We might say that we haven’t forgot but, if don’t keep moving and changing your scenery you will become a local of this world and you will stay here. Your soul will lose and you will start looking at the other pilgrims as though they are doing something wrong. “What are they doing, they just think they’re too good to be around us”. They are still on their journey. The truth is, all Christians should still be on that journey because, none that still live, have finished unless they quit. There are many who say that they are willing to do anything for Jesus. They are ready for that journey, but are they really? Let’s look at Luke 14.

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-33 (KJV)

The church today makes this journey sound like it is an easy, fun loving, attractive ride to an amusement park. Jesus gives us a glimpse of this journey here. What do you think these people did here after hearing this? I know what would happen today if a preacher preached to the multitude about being a disciple of Jesus like this. He wouldn’t be preaching to a multitude any more. One point I am getting at here is a stranger, pilgrim or sojourner is not so attached to these things that he is not willing to move on to where ever God wants him to. You cannot be a disciple of Jesus if you are not willing to give everything. This does not say that you must forsake almost everything, does it? No, it says ALL. Do you want to be a disciple of Jesus or a local in this world? I have heard many people say that God would not require you to leave your family whether they are saved or not. This is another lie and apostasy of the church and it will keep you from going on your journey. God will and does require you and everyone else that is a child of his to be not unequally yoked with unbelievers. Go ahead and live here and stay here and pretend in you mind that you are going to Heaven because you are a good person, or because you do good things, or because you say with your mouth that Jesus is lord, and you still hold on to every little lust and desire of YOU! Children of God are not U’s or I’s. They is only we as one body going on the same journey, seeking the same treasure. This body is required to give up everything for the better of the whole body so that it will stay on the path.

Why did God tell his people to move? He told Abraham to leave his country. He made the Israelites stay on the move in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus had to give up his house and stay on the move for three years. The apostles stayed on the move until martyrdom. The seventy that Jesus sent out were not allowed to take anything with them. Even Jesus had nothing. God wants his people to focus on him and the job that he has given them. When we have things of this world we take our focus off of our responsibilities as Christians. God wants his people to know that he is God. When his people are constantly on their journey they are constantly changing. Some stop and get into their comfortable zone and move away from the will of God. Let’s look at Luke 9

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:57-62 (KJV)

Well so much for not taking you away from your family. Jesus said if I say go, GO. Don’t look back, don’t wait, just go and I will take care of you. Too many times people try and pick up the bible and they either don’t understand something or they don’t like what is says. Regardless of the reason they pick apart parts of the bible that they should just read. Just read it. God gave us the bible to read as his children. The problem that comes from dissecting the bible is that so many men come up with so many different ideas. Then they call it theology. I wander if theology has anything to do with theory, because like the theory of evolution, that is what most theology is today. I believe God gave us the bible and he intended everyone willing to be his child, to be able to read and understand it. Of course he will give more understanding to some than he does others but education at a seminary can only hinder the problem. We are to be as pilgrims. I wonder how many pilgrims had degrees in theology. Let’s look at 1 Peter 1

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 1 Peter 1:15-17 (KJV)

Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. How many people in our churches today have any fear of God? People live their self satisfying lives and call themselves God’s children, but have no fear of him. Children should fear their father. If they don’t, they will not respect him. They won’t listen to his commands. Their father can tell them to do something and they will just say, “oh he won’t do anything, he loves me too much”. According to Peter, we will be judged by our works and we must have fear on our journey. Have you ever gone on a long drive like on a vacation in a car that you didn’t know if it would make it or not? I have and I babied that car. I was so cautious. I didn’t take off too fast or brake too late. I traveled in fear. We need to get back to fearing God and realize we can step off of the path. We can turn our backs on God. So why don’t we become the sojourners in this world. Let’s show the world that we don’t belong here and we are going somewhere else. Let’s also show them that they too can go if they are willing. It is our job to show them the path, not drag them down it. Let’s travel down this path together and help each other when we get stuck in the mud and mire of this world. Let’s also be willing to listen to a brother when he tells us there is a snake at our feet. Sometimes we can’t see because we are looking through foggy glasses. I pray we will all realize that we are just, strangers and pilgrims in this land. We do not have to concern ourselves with the things of this land. We do not have to participate with the festivals and rituals of the false gods in this land. We do not have to give one thought, other than the prayer required, for who is leading this land because this is not our land. I put this bible study together while I was in the hospital. I am still in the hospital but I get to go home today. Praise God. While I was here I was thinking about how people always complain about hospitals. It doesn’t matter what hospital you go to, someone will tell you a story of how that hospital let their friend of family member die. For some reason we get this thinking that a hospital is like a car shop. We come in, they replace a few parts, and we get back on the road for 100,000 miles. We should always know that we do not belong here. We should go to a physician when we are sick but we should not get upset when someone dies, because they were not meant to be here forever, but we are meant to be somewhere forever. Quit putting so much trust into a world that is temporary. Start putting all of your trust into God and focus on the journey that is at hand. Good traveling and God Bless.