Are you a Pilgrim in this World?
To answer this question honestly we have to first define what a pilgrim really is. As the dictionary explains it, a pilgrim is a person that journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons. Other explanations include a journeyman, a worshiper, devotee and even a believer. As a secular description of a pilgrim it is still apparent that there is something that is calling such a person on a quest. A pilgrim has a goal in mind, a destination that comes from deep within his soul. A calling that he cannot ignore. Now that we have established a basis for what a pilgrim is, lets look closer into what the life of a pilgrim looks like.
He is never stationary, he always knows that his journey will only come to an end when he finds what he is searching for. This means that he is always progressing, learning from his surroundings as he goes. He listens to advice but never lets things get in the way so much that it keeps him from his journey. Finally, even though it isn’t apparent at the start, they learn that they never really belonged in the first place. They know that they were born for a bigger purpose and that search leads them on a journey of life that’s unparalleled by anything else.
Just like a pilgrim on a journey, we should not feel like we belong in this world. We have a higher calling than this world and God has called us to seek him, And if we seek him we will find him. There are so many verses that talk about not belonging to this world but I will just mention a few.
Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Proverbs 13:20-21, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.”
1Timothy 4:7-12, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for your present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
All of these verses show us that we are to continue a journey towards perfection. With Gods help we follow the path he has put before us. This is not a pointless trip, or a cruel joke from a God that wants to watch us struggle. But instead its from a love so deep that He is willing to take us through pain in order to show us and teach us that there is something so much better! It is not the easiest way but it is definitely the most effective way to both stir our affections for Him and have a life lesson that we can remember and learn from. He is in the business of renewal and restoration, that means that there are things that need to be cut out, bent, welded, taken out and reinstalled. But the end result is nothing like your best version of yourself, its so much more. I want to encourage you today to not look at the mundane repetitive acts of life and let them make you feel stuck. Remember that God is working, and If we are focusing on his journey for our lives we will see why His way is so much better. So, I ask again are you a pilgrim of Christ? Or are you more of a citizen of the world? To end I want to leave you with another Valley of vision poem. These have encouraged me so much And I Hope this encourages you as well!
The Saviour
Thou hast given me a Saviour,
Produce in me a faith to live by him,
To make him all my desire,
All my hope, all my glory.
May I enter him as my refuge,
Build on him as a Foundation,
Walk in him as my way,
Follow him as my guide,
Conform to him as my example,
Receive his instructions as my prophet,
Rely on his intercession as my high priest,
Obey him as my king.
May I never be ashamed of him or his words,
But joyfully bear his reproach,
Never displease him by unholy or impudent conduct,
Never count it a glory if I take it patiently
When buffeted for a fault,
Never make the multitude my model,
Never delay when thy word invites me to advance.
May thy dear son preserve me from this present evil world,
So that it smiles never allure,
Nor its frowns terrify,
Nor its vices defile,
Nor its errors delude me.
May I feel that I am a stranger and a pilgrim on earth,
Declaring plainly that I seek a country,
My title to it becoming daily more clear,
My meetness for it more perfect,
My foretaste of it more abundant;
And whatsoever I do may it be done in the Saviour’s name.
May we be foreigners in this world and instead be citizens of the world to come. The one that Christ is bringing when he returns.
