Strangers and Pilgrims
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. For 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. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one: therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city.
(Hebrews 11: 13-16)
I recently read an interesting account of the Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth Massachusetts. The Pilgrims were originally known as Separatists because they were not willing to submit to the state church of England. They wanted to worship in a very simple manner without all of the ritual and symbols which were used in the Anglican Church. The problem of course was during that time it was unlawful not to submit to the dictates of the state church. A person could be tortured or even put to death if they didn’t submit to the state’s ecclesiastical authorities. So they reasoned if England required them to compromise that which they believed the Bible clearly taught, then England could not be their home. So they journeyed to Holland, which at that time was known as being more tolerant of various religious beliefs. But the tolerance of Holland soon became intolerable for them. Holland could not be their home. So they set their sights on the New World – perhaps this could become their new home. After long delays and great expense they were finally on their way.
After leaving England on September 16, 1620 they endured a treacherous three month crossing of the Atlantic. They finally landed at their new dwelling near Plymouth on December 21, 1620. The first winter they faced in their new home was almost beyond their ability to bear. “The Great Sickness” raged through the camp and nearly half of the pilgrims died. Those remaining persevered driven by their resolve and their commitment to worship God in an unrestricted environment. After that first terrible winter their life slowly turned toward the better. During their first year they built a town. During year two, they established a town council. In year three, the town council said, “We will begin to build a road 5 miles into the wilderness.” Now notice this; in year four those same pilgrims tried to impeach the town council, because they didn't want to build a road 5 miles into the wilderness because of two reasons: It would be costly. The citizens didn’t see the real need for it.
It hits me like a 2x4 on the head! Here are these people – heroic people – courageous people - the same people who had vision to see all the way across the Atlantic Ocean - who had were brave enough to risk life and limb to leave their old life behind - who had the courage to risk a journey over relatively unknown waters to settle on a continent they knew little about and then face dangers they couldn’t even comprehend. Here are these people who were so passionate about fulfilling their vision that they traveled thousands of miles to accomplish it. And they come to a point only four years later where they couldn’t see how to press five more miles into the wilderness! - When you loose your vision – you loose your ability to press on.
A pilgrim by definition is a person who journeys – he is a traveler, longing to find a place he can truly call his home. The scripture verses above remind us that God’s people have always been strangers and pilgrims in this world. Name any of the great saints of the Bible you wish: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David and more. They all lived with an unshakable longing for a better place. They lived in tents wondering from one place to another. Many were very wealthy and could have built marvelous mansions in which to live, but instead chose to live in temporary dwellings constantly moving about. This world was not their home. They were pilgrims longing for a better place.
This world with all of its corruption, pollution, wars, profanity and problems is not the home we are destined to live in. It is true there is great beauty and wonder in creation as we look around us. But it is still a place where weeds ultimately take over - where sin constantly abides - where grief and death sooner or later knocks on each of our doors. As solid as your home is at this very moment, it is decaying away around you even as you read these words – and you can’t stop the decay process. You might slow it down a bit - but it’s impossible to stop it. It’s the 2nd law of thermodynamics – nothing material is eternal. As grand and beautiful as creation is there is still the sense, which all of us carry – that something is terribly wrong. Gentle brooks suddenly turn into raging flash floods. Soothing waves become killer tsunamis. We see it every time we pick up a newspaper or watch our newscasts. There is something amiss, something wrong. This world is not our home.
One of the great problems we face is when the saints begin to live as if this is our home. When we begin to think this is all there is – we loose our ability to press on in Kingdom work. Show me a person who lives for the things of this world and I’ll show you a person who does little for the Lord. This world is not our home. God has prepared something greater – something grander, which I believe is beyond any human description. He has placed a longing for it within each of us. The Bible says “He has set eternity in our hearts.” It is that vision – that kept Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph – all of God’s people – even you and I moving forward. We all long for a better country – a heavenly one. We are strangers and pilgrims until the time we arrive and are united with our Great King. That union has been made available to every person through the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In His presence we will be able to enjoy the perfectness of an undefiled kingdom forever. But until then – we journey.
From one pilgrim to another – Press Onward.
PT
(Hebrews 11: 13-16)
I recently read an interesting account of the Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth Massachusetts. The Pilgrims were originally known as Separatists because they were not willing to submit to the state church of England. They wanted to worship in a very simple manner without all of the ritual and symbols which were used in the Anglican Church. The problem of course was during that time it was unlawful not to submit to the dictates of the state church. A person could be tortured or even put to death if they didn’t submit to the state’s ecclesiastical authorities. So they reasoned if England required them to compromise that which they believed the Bible clearly taught, then England could not be their home. So they journeyed to Holland, which at that time was known as being more tolerant of various religious beliefs. But the tolerance of Holland soon became intolerable for them. Holland could not be their home. So they set their sights on the New World – perhaps this could become their new home. After long delays and great expense they were finally on their way.
After leaving England on September 16, 1620 they endured a treacherous three month crossing of the Atlantic. They finally landed at their new dwelling near Plymouth on December 21, 1620. The first winter they faced in their new home was almost beyond their ability to bear. “The Great Sickness” raged through the camp and nearly half of the pilgrims died. Those remaining persevered driven by their resolve and their commitment to worship God in an unrestricted environment. After that first terrible winter their life slowly turned toward the better. During their first year they built a town. During year two, they established a town council. In year three, the town council said, “We will begin to build a road 5 miles into the wilderness.” Now notice this; in year four those same pilgrims tried to impeach the town council, because they didn't want to build a road 5 miles into the wilderness because of two reasons: It would be costly. The citizens didn’t see the real need for it.
It hits me like a 2x4 on the head! Here are these people – heroic people – courageous people - the same people who had vision to see all the way across the Atlantic Ocean - who had were brave enough to risk life and limb to leave their old life behind - who had the courage to risk a journey over relatively unknown waters to settle on a continent they knew little about and then face dangers they couldn’t even comprehend. Here are these people who were so passionate about fulfilling their vision that they traveled thousands of miles to accomplish it. And they come to a point only four years later where they couldn’t see how to press five more miles into the wilderness! - When you loose your vision – you loose your ability to press on.
A pilgrim by definition is a person who journeys – he is a traveler, longing to find a place he can truly call his home. The scripture verses above remind us that God’s people have always been strangers and pilgrims in this world. Name any of the great saints of the Bible you wish: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David and more. They all lived with an unshakable longing for a better place. They lived in tents wondering from one place to another. Many were very wealthy and could have built marvelous mansions in which to live, but instead chose to live in temporary dwellings constantly moving about. This world was not their home. They were pilgrims longing for a better place.
This world with all of its corruption, pollution, wars, profanity and problems is not the home we are destined to live in. It is true there is great beauty and wonder in creation as we look around us. But it is still a place where weeds ultimately take over - where sin constantly abides - where grief and death sooner or later knocks on each of our doors. As solid as your home is at this very moment, it is decaying away around you even as you read these words – and you can’t stop the decay process. You might slow it down a bit - but it’s impossible to stop it. It’s the 2nd law of thermodynamics – nothing material is eternal. As grand and beautiful as creation is there is still the sense, which all of us carry – that something is terribly wrong. Gentle brooks suddenly turn into raging flash floods. Soothing waves become killer tsunamis. We see it every time we pick up a newspaper or watch our newscasts. There is something amiss, something wrong. This world is not our home.
One of the great problems we face is when the saints begin to live as if this is our home. When we begin to think this is all there is – we loose our ability to press on in Kingdom work. Show me a person who lives for the things of this world and I’ll show you a person who does little for the Lord. This world is not our home. God has prepared something greater – something grander, which I believe is beyond any human description. He has placed a longing for it within each of us. The Bible says “He has set eternity in our hearts.” It is that vision – that kept Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph – all of God’s people – even you and I moving forward. We all long for a better country – a heavenly one. We are strangers and pilgrims until the time we arrive and are united with our Great King. That union has been made available to every person through the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In His presence we will be able to enjoy the perfectness of an undefiled kingdom forever. But until then – we journey.
From one pilgrim to another – Press Onward.
PT
posted by Larry | 5:33 PM
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