Have you ever felt like a "duck
out of water"? Have you ever felt uncomfortable, out of place, like you
just didn't belong? Perhaps you went somewhere in casual clothes, while
everyone else was in more formal attire, and you felt rather conspicuous and
out of it. Or maybe you found yourself in a group of people who were swearing
or telling off-color jokes, and you didn't quite know what to do or how to
react. Or you go to a birthday party, but are the only one who forgot to bring
a gift. Or maybe the gift you brought is obviously the cheapest, and the recipient
can barely hide her disappointment. From time to time, we all feel conspicuous
or out of place, like we don't belong.
According to these Scripture
passages, God's people, Christians, should always feel somewhat out of place in
this world. They ought to feel like strangers, pilgrims, aliens, like
"ducks out of water," out of their proper environment. The Psalmist
said, "I am a stranger on earth" (Psalm 119:19a). The phrase,
"wherever I lodge," in verse 54, literally means: "in my
temporary house." According to Hebrews 11, the "heroes of the
faith" "admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth"
(verse 13). Peter describes his Christian readers as "aliens and strangers
in the world."
As strangers in the world, we are
disturbed by many things. Our own mortality can be distressing. Children grow
up and parents grow old. In some villages, one can see many abandoned farm
places. At one time the houses were probably dream homes, but are now
dilapidated and the people are long gone. If you have not seen the friends and
acquaintances of your youth lately, it might surprise you to see that they now
have gray hair. It reminds us that we are growing older, and that life is going
by rapidly. Also distressing is the fact that bad things happen to basically good
people, to God's people. There was a fine Christian woman, who was very active
in her church. Once she took her son's paper route while he was at a Cadet
camp-out. Somewhere along the line she fell, severely damaging her ankle. In
fact, later she ended up on crutches. Although in considerable pain, she wanted
to finish the route before going to the doctor. To save a few agonizing steps,
she hobbled across a lawn. Halfway across, the door opened and an angry voice
shouted: "What's the matter with you, walking on the grass? Someone your
age ought to know better."
She saw some humor in that later.
Other things that happen to us are no laughing matter; not now, not ever. They
are downright distressing or discouraging, and remind us of how vulnerable we
really are.
The Psalmist was well aware of his
weakness and frailty. In the Psalms we read of both high and low points in the
life of faith. Like the Psalmist, there are times when, spiritually speaking,
we feel like we could "soar with the eagles." A short time later,
however, we seem to be waddling around like penguins. Our own instability can
be distressing.
Something that ought to distress us
is when God is ignored or dishonored. The Psalmist said: "Indignation
grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law" (119:53). When
God's law is broken, people get hurt, God is offended, and society suffers the
consequences.
Whether we observe it or experience
it, we know that life is simply unfair. For example, God's good gifts are not
evenly distributed. Professional athletes earn far more than farmers, although
farmers' work is far more important. Athletes merely amuse us; farmers actually
feed us. Injustice occurs every day, in all aspects of human life. The problems
of the world seem so overwhelming that we are tempted to just throw up our
hands in despair.
But strangers in the world are not
alone in the world. In one Bible version, Psalm 119:49-56 is entitled:
"God's Word is my comfort and guide whatever the circumstances." The
Psalmist wrote, "My comfort in my suffering is this: your promise
preserves my life" (119:50). "I remember your ancient laws, O Lord,
and I find comfort in them" (verse 52). He found comfort not only in
Scripture, but in Scripture's Author: "You have given me hope" (verse
49).
A Christian author once said:
"Life is unfair. Get over it!" His point was that in an imperfect
world filled with imperfect people problems are inevitable, so don't expect too
much. While our life's "book" will certainly have a happy ending,
there is some sadness on almost every page.
Children soon discover that life
isn't fair. There are times in your lives when bruised knees or broken dreams
have brought tears to your eyes. You have probably experienced how some
children and older people can be downright nasty or unkind. Maybe you
yourselves said or did something that made you feel bad, that gave you a guilty
conscience. Life simply isn't fair. Some people have great beauty or brains,
health or wealth, while our portion seems rather small. Diseases and accidents
happen to both believers and unbelievers. The Bible reminds us that while life
may be unfair at times and people might be unkind,
God is always just and loving.
Peter reminds his readers that they
are "God's elect, strangers in the world...who have been chosen" (I
Peter 1:1, 2). Being God's chosen people does not keep us from life's storms,
but it is our security in life's storms. Another Psalmist reminds us that
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
When we are in the midst of a "storm," we usually ask God to calm it.
Until he does, we may pray: "Lord, keep me afloat during this storm."
The sea around us might be raging but in our hearts there can be the peace of
God.
Psalm 4 says: "Know that the
Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to
him" (verse 3). Children, young people, and adults need to know that they
are children of God. The awareness of God's presence helped Jacob on his way
(Genesis 28:12ff). Once he was alone under the stars, running for his life,
when he saw a stairway with angels on it. He woke up and said, "Surely the
Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.... How awesome is this
place!" Then he continued his journey.
If only we could live each moment of
every day with that awareness, thinking: "Surely the Lord is in this place
and in my life. Because of that, How awesome is this place, and how awesome is
life itself and eternal life!" Even though you might feel out of place at
times, feel as though you don't belong, you do belong to your Savior.
Because you belong to Him, live for
Him. Peter writes: "I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to
abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul" (I Peter 2:11).
Abstaining is not a very popular concept. Yet young and older people need to
abstain from the sinful desires that war against our souls. Parents, teachers
or pastors might say it, too, but first of all it is your God, your Savior, who
says: "Abstain from sinful desires." He does not want us to lose the
battle for our souls.
It is hard enough to abstain from
sinful words and actions, how can we abstain from sinful desires? Perhaps we
can't keep inappropriate thoughts from crossing our minds from time to time,
but we can keep them from staying there. We can't prevent them from using the
road, but we can put up "No Parking" signs, and we can enforce that
rule.
Peter urges us to live good lives
among those who don't believe (I Peter 2:12). Many people are concerned about
treasures on earth, but Christians desire spiritual riches. Christians are
thankful for what they do have, not angry or bitter about what they do not
have. Christians confess and repent of their faults, but are not obsessed with
them. They know that they have physical, mental, emotional, financial
limitations. They accept God's love and forgiveness, and do their best.
A man once claimed that he was a
"war baby," that his parents had taken one look at him and started
fighting. Like him, everyone one of us has limitations, whether real or
imagined, limitations that we have to live with. The good news is that God
loves us!
Hopefully we, God's children, never
waste our time wishing for things that others have, or wishing that we were
more beautiful, athletic or intelligent than we are. Hopefully we realize how
beautiful and special we are in the eyes of God and in the eyes of those who
love us. Hopefully we enjoy ourselves, our lives, our Lord, and develop the
unique gifts he has given us. Hopefully we seek first God's kingdom and God's
will for our lives. Hopefully we will be the best that we can be, for God's
glory and for our own good.
Though we travel as strangers or
temporary residents, the Lord wants us to do good along the way, and to promote
the well-being of church and society. The pilgrim Abraham was a great man of
faith, who interceded for Sodom and rescued Lot. Like Abraham, Peter urges
believers to make a difference in this world for God and for good. All of us
are called to be part of God's Rescue Squad, who throw out the lifeline, who
fulfill our part of the Great Commission. Many of us have been strangers at
some time in our lives, newcomers to a certain city or community. After living
for awhile in a place, people usually become more and more comfortable. They
adjust, and may even adopt some of the customs and traditions of their new
home. In time, they no longer feel like strangers.
Yet Scripture warns us not to become
too comfortable here on earth. The Bible does not promise us comfortable lives.
It teaches us that our lives on earth are temporary, and that, spiritually
speaking, even when we are in the world we are not of it. It informs us of the
comfort that comes from knowing that we belong to Jesus.
A company once sent pamphlets in the
mail, containing the phrase: "an investment in paradise." No place on
earth is a "paradise." In reality, we make an investment in the true
Paradise when we commit our lives to Jesus. Paradise is the place where we will
never again feel alone, out of place, discouraged, or sad. And as we travel
there, we pray: "I am a stranger on earth.... Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.... Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever
I lodge" (119:18,19a,54). AMEN.
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