Strangers and Pilgrims

Dear class,

Today's readings are taken from Psa 84-86 and 1Pe 2.

1 Peter 2 starts off with our class theme verse in v.2 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

And indeed, GROWTH and MATURITY are important hallmarks of the faithful Christian. And this development is solely with reference to the spiritual department.
If anything but for the fact that we are "Strangers" and "Pilgrims" in this world.
Our citizenship is in the Kingdom of God! We are merely PRs (Permanent Residents) or perhaps even Work Permit holders!
And yes of course, as Peter would point out later in the chapter (v.13 ff), we are subject to the laws of the land, to our worldly masters. Yet being aliens, our primary focus should not be on our current place of residence but our ultimate heavenly abode.

As strangers and pilgrims in this world, we need to constantly ask ourselves - just what are we preparing ourselves for?
Sometimes, we seem to live like we never want to leave this world! As if we would renounce our heavenly citizenship for a worldly passport. Far fetched? Yet every time we choose to disobey His Word, every time we let worldly priorities take precedence over spiritual, every time we fail to stand up for The Faith, we are moving closer toward a total renouncement of our heavenly citizenship.

Practically, Peter reminds us of at least 3 areas how we should live as spiritual foreigners -
1) Abstain from fleshly lusts
We are all too familiar with 1Jo 2:15-17. Paul exhorts Timothy to "flee youthful lusts". (2Ti 2:22) The temptation is real! Being subject to the constant bombardment and not making a conscious effort to turn away is going to make it more and more difficult to live as foreigners! In the same verse, Paul gives tips to make things easier - follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace. Heavyweight items, yet boils down to an active, engaged life of good works, for which we've been created to walk in! (Eph 2:10). As Christians, we can't hole ourselves up in some remote island or high mountain and live as hermits to "abstain from fleshly lusts"! There's work to do! LOTS of it! And in fact that's the way in order for us to keep ourselves focussed on our citizenship and making sure we lay hold unto our ultimately citizenship rights.

2) Honest living
Besides for our own good, our godly way of life is one of the greatest testament to His Word. Wherefore Jesus exhorted us -
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ~ Mat 5:13-16

For a fact, there would be people who would look upon us with disdain, who would revile us, accuse us of being "aloof", "self-righteous", "goody-two-shoes". (c.f. 1Pe 4:4) Yet we need to continue to persevere, knowing that we have been commanded to be "god-pleasers" and not "men-pleasers" (Col 3:22,23). The skeptical and scornful will never be pleased, yet the pure and genuine in heart would definitely see the glory of God through true Christian living. Consistency is the key here. Never let our decisions waver and wander. It will only make our critics more critical and the good hearts cold, and worse, trample God's name under our very own feet.

3) Submit to every ordinance of man
Obviously, if we were to observe the drift of the Scriptures, this submission is not about doing evil! But rather a reminder on two fronts.
Firstly, being a foreigner doesn't mean we are above the laws of the land! Any PR, WP, EP(Employment Pass) holder are still subject to the same laws! We are to respect and submit to the authorities. Paul even go as far to say - "Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation."! (Rom 13:2) Thus even as we go about doing His Work, we need to be careful not be come into conflict with the laws of the land. Note that contextually, in Rom 13, Paul had particular reference to Christians paying taxes to the Roman government, which some have an issue against. So as a similar example, it would be wrong for an individual to evade taxes just so he can give more to God!
Secondly, as we've seen in Col 3:22,23, our submission is an ultimate projection of our submission to God. Once we get that clear, it removes "dilemmas" in our choices. In bro Swayne's excellent sermon yesterday, he alluded to the example of Daniel. Daniel had purposed in his heart to do God's will regardless. Was the king angry with Daniel on hearing his accusers? On the contrary, he was was angry with himself for having foolishly declared a law that had Daniel implicated and sought ways and means to get him out of the rut! (Dan 6:14) Why? Because Daniel had given his best in his service to Persian empire like as to God, and the king knew he had a great man under his service, one of whom he could fully put his trust upon, so much so that Daniel was basically his second-in-command (Dan 6:3). And of course we all know how the story concluded. And we notice how God was glorified through Daniel's shining example (Dan 6:26,27). Give of our best at work, as to the Lord, stick to His Principles, and God is faithful to make ways for us and deliver us.

Brethren, let us never forget our status here on earth, and live as we should in the capacity of foreigners in a foreign land, labouring in so far as to ensure our return to our homeland and to being as many people with us as possible.

The Lord bless our day ahead.

In Him
Paul

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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. ~ 1Corinthians 15:58