"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims ('sojourners, temporary residents') of the Dispersion...." (1 Peter 1:1a)
Why do we attempt to make this present age "home," when it's not? All throughout Scripture we are referred to as, in one way or another, "the pilgrims of the Dispersion...." Look around you right now. We are, "temporary residents," of what you see.
I have used the term, "sojourners," many times in my writings. And, we are indeed, "temporary residents," in this life, and not just the Followers of Jesus; those who reject Jesus are also on temporary ground. The sad reality of life, however, is that so many live as though Peggy Lee's inference was right, "Is That All There Is?" The vast majority of humanity, which includes way too many church-goers, is living life as though this is "all there is."
When a person realizes that he/she is a, "temporary resident[] of the Dispersion," it affects their goals, plans, agenda. It does not mean that we should not plan or have goals. It just means that whatever plans and goals we may have should always be governed by what the Bible teaches us, "You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'"
Now some may find this depressing. If it does, the reason is that they have listened too much to, and embraced the "you-can-have-it-all-now" teaching. Now, now, now, is all they are concerned about. Try this instead: Jesus said, "I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingdom." The Book of Revelation tells us, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away....Then I...saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband....There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying...He Who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'" I want to "work on" embracing this more.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I accept and want to live by my title as one of the, "Pilgrims
('Sojourners, Temporary Residents') of the Dispersion." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
