pilgrims

I Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”
Martin Luther in writing about meditation says, “But I cannot worthily and fully set forth the gracious meaning and force of the word; for this “meditating” consists first in an intent observing of the words of the law, and then a comparing of the different Scriptures; which is a certain delightful hunting, nay, rather a playing with stags in a forest, where the Lord furnishes us with the stags, and opens to us their secret coverts.” Though the imagery might be dated, for I do not know any that enjoy hunting or playing with stags, the intent is perfect. As we begin studying a verse, the very thing that Martin Luther wrote about happens. The verse comes alive and leads us on an adventure through the scriptures.
This is what has happened as I began my study of I Peter. My intent was only to lightly refresh my mind with the content of the book, but off one word my study has centered. The word is “pilgrim,” and it simply has taken control of my thinking for the last week. I have chased the word through books and chapters and have become nearly mesmerized by the image the word paints for us. When studying Romans, the word “bond-slave” grabbed a hold of me and seemed to spell out the greatest definition of Christianity in one word, but now, “pilgrim” seems to contain such a fullness that if I were to be asked to give a brief summary of Christian living it would be “pilgrim.”
The perspective of a pilgrim seems to be of utmost importance in living a victorious Christian life, for how we see ourselves will directly effect how we live. Right believing always produces right living. Webster defines pilgrim, “one who journeys in foreign lands,” and that is the crux of the matter. Do we know that we are in a foreign land, that this is not our home? Some other versions of the Bible use the similar words, “exile, sojourner, strangers” all that carry the same meaning, this is not our home. We are merely passing through. A little later in the first chapter of Peter, he tells us to conduct ourselves in fear throughout the time of our stay here. Isn’t that beautiful language? “Our stay here,” because we are only temporarily here, we are just passing through, we are wayfaring strangers.
The Bible speaks so highly of those that knew this about themselves; that knew they were merely pilgrims heading home. David writes in I Chron 29: 15, “For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope.” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob also carry this testimony. In Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16, we read, “8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God…13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly country: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Did you hear verse 14, “they that say such things (what things? Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth!) declare plainly that they seek a homeland.” Why are they seeking a homeland, because they have no home upon the earth. And what is it that they were seeking? They were seeking a heavenly country. These men made no provision for this life, they did not store up treasures, they were merely passing through.
Oh that we would desire to be like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David, men that carry the testimony of God, men of whom God is not ashamed to be called their God!
Jesus tells us so plainly that we are of another world, that this is not our home in John 15, saying, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” And again in John 17, that great priestly prayer, Jesus stands believers in contrast, as those not of the world; praying, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom you have given me out of the world…I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, they are Yours…I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…they are not of the world, just as I am not the world…as You sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world…”
Do you hear the words of Christ, we are no longer of this world because he has chosen us out of the world, we have been adopted into God’s family and our true home, our eternal home is with Him, is that not what Christ prayed? “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with me where I am…(John 17:24). Oh how this knowledge can set us free from so much sin, so many burdens, so many troubles and tribulations. This was Peter’s original point in writing to the pilgrims, he was writing to remind them and encourage them and help them through a trial, and their hope began with this word, pilgrim! How that word carries such temporariness, we are just passing through! How this world tries to get its hooks into us, how our flesh fights against our spirits, how our sinfulness strives against our new natures, is it any wonder that in order to be His disciples we must deny our selves and take up our crosses and follow Him, Him our example, the One that was not of this world!