This World Is Not My Home
“This World Is Not My Home”
“… pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” I Peter 1:17b
As Peter wrote to discouraged and persecuted Christians,
he referred to them as elect strangers (see. Vss. 1 & 2). This
reference makes me think of a particular Old Testament
character who also was an elect stranger, Abraham. As I
reflect on Abraham’s life, I’m reminded how God charged him
to leave his native country and seek another country, of which
he knew very little about and had never seen. Yet, when he
arrived in the promised land of Canaan, we understand that he
had not yet arrived at his ultimate destination, ” … for he
looked for a city which had foundations, whose builder and
maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). Abraham understood that he
was simply a sojourner in Canaan and that he didn’t have full
possession of God’s promised land. Yet, even if he did have
possession of it, he was still a sojourner, because he was
looking for another country, a heavenly one! (Heb. 11:16).
In a real way, we also are strangers in this world. If we
were to travel to another part of the world for a brief visit, we
would not be very concerned with establishing ourselves with
jobs, permanent housing, cumbersome possessions or
unnecessary attachments. While on a quick trip, we would
pack lightly, maximize our time and always act with the return
home in our minds. Likewise, we should not become
entangled with the affairs of this life (cf. II Tim. 2:4), but we
should pass the time of our sojourning in fear and seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness. – D.H.
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread” September 24th, 2022 devotional by author D.H. REV. DAVID HALLBERG, Academic Dean, Providence Baptist College, Elgin, IL. With permission from Tim Green, editor Baptist Bread.
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