Wednesday, 19^th April 2023

Andrews Ampomah 

TOPIC: STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS

THEME SCRIPTURE: “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” – Hebrews 11:16

 

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:

1. How do you see this world and the things in them?
2. What drives your work and pursuits in this life?

 

All around us, we see an unusual quest for people to grab wealth at the slightest opportunity, whether by genuine or foul means. Both Christians and non-Christians live as if Earth is their final destination. Many have openly denied life after death and claimed their heaven is about having all the best things this world has to offer. Working hard to get rich or the best things in life is commendable.

But focusing on them [material things] and forgetting that we have no permanent home on earth contradicts our faith.

In today's scripture, living like, and having the mindset of a stranger and pilgrim shows faith in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 11:13). We are given an insight into the lives of the Patriarchs, who were promised by God that Canaan— a land that flowed with milk and honey—was their inheritance. Despite these promises, they focused on the Celestial City, whose builder and maker is God, not Canaan. These patriarchs had all the wealth one can ever imagine. They were wealthier than some nations of their time. Yet they looked forward to the coming of Christ and never trusted in their wealth.

They believed in a celestial city, so "God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared them a city." 

Beloved in Christ, the world can easily make us forget that we are strangers and pilgrims on earth. This fading world has no eternal city or thing. It's disastrous to be so focused on getting the best of this world that you lose sight of the Celestial City. It's great to have the best things in life, but it's better to do so with the knowledge that they're all fading and that there’s a city whose builder and maker is Yahweh. Many in this world trust their acquisitions. Are you one of them? They trust that their wealth can save them—that’s a great lie. Many people, at the point of their deaths, were disappointed by their wealth.

The reality is that the world and everything in it is sinking sand.

Beloved, this does not discourage hard work and wealth creation. It's a stark reminder that Jesus has gone to prepare a better country for us. For Christ's sake, we must remember that Earth is not our final home. To believe in Christ Jesus is to live as a stranger and pilgrim on earth, waiting for your Lord to return. Instead of trusting and pursuing wealth as if it were all that matters, resolve to do that with the consciousness that you are a stranger and a pilgrim here on earth.

God bless you.

FURTHER READING – Revelation 21:1-27

Call to Salvation: If you have not received salvation yet by turning over your life to Jesus Christ, today is your day. Click here to do so. 

 

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1. Do you live with the consciousness that heaven is your final destination?
2. Do you pursue earthly things with a heavenly mindset?

 

CONFESSION

Heavenly Father, thank you for being my God through Christ Jesus. I affirm that you are preparing an eternal city for me. Grant me the grace to live with the consciousness that everything in this world is temporal and that there is a city whose builder and maker is you, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

  

1-Year Bible Reading Plan

Deuteronomy 2; Proverbs 29; John 12