“But who am I and what are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come from You and of Your own have we given You—for we are strangers before you and sojourners, as were our fathers. Our days on the earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding.”
I Chronicles 29:14-15
Although our time here on earth is temporal and transitory at best, the Lord will still use us to make an eternal difference if we let Him.
“Strangers, Sojourners and Shadows.”
That’s really how we should describe ourselves when others ask us, “Who are you?” Doing so will help us to always remember who we really are and the importance of living surrendered lives to Christ.
The Hebrew word “geyr” is used for “strangers” and also means “guest, foreigner, alien, etc.,” while “towshab” is used for “sojourner” and basically means “traveler, temporary dweller, one passing through, etc.” Thus, it’s the picture of a “pilgrim”—one who’s noticeably “different” and transient. This doesn’t mean we’re like someone taking a cross-country trip on a bus and only occasionally get off; it simply means we’re more like one who’s backpacking through an area and never really puts down roots or builds foundations for any dwellings.
That’s why Abraham and Sarah “dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob and looked for a city which has foundations” (Heb. 11:9b-10a). And, they weren’t looking for just any city; they were “looking for a City whose Builder and Maker is God” (v.10b). Hallelujah!
And, so should we be, Pilgrim.
In reality, we should live the type of holy lives that makes the world’s crowd ask, “You’re not from around these-here parts, are you?” Truly, they should notice the difference—not because we’re obnoxious or offensive—but because we have a different “aroma” about us.
A Heavenly one (Phil. 3:20).
Likewise, they’ll notice we have a different “accent” when we speak; again, a Heavenly one. And, they’ll quickly notice that faraway look in our eyes, which hopefully will cause them to ask “Where ‘ya headed?” and we can respond “To Heaven!”
Someone once said, “A vagabond is someone who doesn’t have a home. A criminal is someone who’s running from home. A stranger is someone who’s away from home. But, a Pilgrim is someone who’s headed toward Home.” Glory!!
So, the question for us is “Where ‘ya headed, Pilgrim?”
And, may we be quick to reply, “Home.”
Then, may we also add, “You wanna join me?”
And, hopefully they’ll say, “Yes. How do I get my ticket?” and you can tell them (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 6:23; 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9). That way we’ll not worry as our life’s “evening shadows” fall, for we’ll know we’ve pointed others to Christ and that glorious Celestial City that awaits us.
July 6, 2011
