What comes to mind when you hear the words strangers and exiles? Usually, it will bring negative thoughts to our minds. We normally don’t want to be known as a stranger, and we don’t want to be living as an exile in a place that is far from our home. Yet several times in the Bible we are called to live as “strangers and exiles”. Those very terms are used as something positive that we should be thinking of ourselves as. As followers of Christ we are to live in this world but not be of this world (John 17:16). We are not to be thinking of this life as though we are to just seek our own pleasure or to be in love with the present age that we forget we are called to live for eternity. We are called to live for the kingdom of God. There is many great and beautiful things in this life and it is good to seek them but we must remember everyday that our ultimate joy and purpose is found in knowing God and serving Him.
One of the best passages in the Bible that speaks about living as strangers and exiles is in Hebrews chapter 11 the faith chapter where the writer is describing men and women of God who lived for eternity and knew they didn’t belong here and lived differently from how people who don’t know God lived.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.- Hebrews 11:13
All the men and women listed in the chapter lived by faith and thought of themselves as “just passing through” looking and longing to be with God in eternity and living to please Him. Of coarse all the people listed are flawed sinners as we all are, but they lived lives of repentance and pursuing the call of God in their lives. Are you doing the same as a follower of Jesus? Are you using your time wisely here using your time and gifts for God? Sometimes as Christians we can become so focused on this life and the highs and lows that come with it that we forget how temporary and brief this life is and its easy to forget our citizenship is in heaven (Phillipians 3:20). Jesus told us that he came that we should have abundant life, life to the full! (John 10:10). Was he talking about having the “good life’ with riches and all the materialism that the world offers? Of course not, we know He was saying we are to live for something higher than what this world has to offer. We are to find our joy and contentment in a life that’s devoted to God and pursuing holiness. True Joy and peace lie with following Jesus and growing in a relationship with Him and serving others with the gifts He has given us. Too often Christians think of serving God and living for Him as a duty instead of delight. Many times, it is difficult but a life walking in faith is truly having the abundant life, a life with purpose and meaning. We have the abundant life now and eternal life with the savior after our days here are over. One of the deepest verses in the bible I believe is Philippians 1:21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.- Philippians 1:21
Paul goes on to explain what he means.
If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith. – Philippians 1:22-25
Paul knows that the next life in eternity with the Lord is infinitely better than being here in this world! Yet while he is living here, he desires to live for Jesus by using his days and years wisely proclaiming the word to people and making Christ known. Sometimes we can be so comfortable here in this life that we just want to enjoy all the pleasures of the American dream. The American dream is not a bad thing and earthly blessing from God are gifts from Him, but we can’t let the pursuit of worldly happiness blind us from the reality of a greater calling that those who follow Christ have. A calling to live for the one who died for us.
and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.- 2 Corinthians 5:15
Not only is Paul not afraid of death but he calls it gain. Wow, that is not how the world thinks of death. Jesus death on the cross and resurrection took the sting our of death for those who follow Him. As Christians we can look at death as just transitioning to a better life, a life where faith becomes sight and all sorrow and pain will be gone. So we don’t need to fear death but as we live the days of this life that God gives us we are to joyfully live our days devoted to God and His purposes.
The apostle Peter also uses the phrase “strangers and exiles” to make his point that we are to be growing in sanctification and not follow the ways of people who don’t know God.
Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.– 1 Peter 2:11
Peter says it’s a war! It’s a daily battle to live a life of faith. Thankfully we have the helper the Holy Spirit to help us win the battle against sin and a life of selfishness. At the end of our lives if God gives us many years do we want to look back and see a life spent pursing frivolous things that never fulfilled us? Or do we want to look back on a life where we zealously pursued Gods call in our lives and stored up treasure in Heaven? Think of yourselves as “strangers and exiles” and know that this earth is not our true home. If you live your life to please God and seek to grow in your faith which is what truly matters you will never regret it.
-Ryan Kaplysh