Hebrews 11:13, “These 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.”
What a wonderful Scripture! The Bible gives us a list of the patriarchs of
the faith who lived, suffered and died BY FAITH. The following Bible verse
was read at my mother's funeral, who went to Heaven to be with Jesus.
Revelation 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed are the dead which die in the
Lord from henceforth: Yea,
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do
follow them.”
Amen! Glory to God, it won't be long
before I'm in Heaven too! Let me tell you brother, we're not just living in
the last days, we're living in the last hour! We're living in the 11th hour,
just minutes before midnight!!!
The Bible reminds us that we are not SETTLERS here on earth; but rather, we are PILGRIMS just passing through. Hebrews 11:13, “These 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.” As believers we need to continually be reminded from the Scriptures that this temporal world is not our home. We are just passing through, and I am so very glad, because I don't want this miserable evil world to be my home. I want to live with Jesus, under His Kingly reign, in His Kingdom.
There's nothing wrong with the earth except mankind, because of man's sin nature. Wherever there are people there are problems, because wherever there are people there is sin and the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Everything that this world has to offer is only temporal. As a child of God possessing God's Spirit within me, I cannot feel at home in this sin-cursed world anymore...
This world is not my home I'm just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymoreOh Lord you know I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore
Far too many Christian believers are living as if this earthly life will last forever, but it cannot and won't...
1st Peter 2:11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”
The Bible
plainly teaches that we ought to live as Christians as if we are just
passing through. This means not investing all of our time, money, energy and
resources for mere earthly treasures. Many people, believers included, live
for THINGS. God DIDN'T create us for things; but
rather, man was created for God.
The World's Priorities Are Drastically Different Than God's
The Godless world lives to accumulate things, wealth and security; but the Bible warns us “THAT WHICH IS HIGHLY ESTEEMED AMONGST MEN IS ABOMINATION IN THE SIGHT OF GOD” . . .
Luke 16:15, “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
The Godless world highly esteems—making money, securing a large retirement, joining demonic false religions like Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, the bogus lies of Evolution, heathen entertainers like Criss Angel, blasphemous comedians like Sarah Silverman and Conan O'Brien, pro-homosexual Rock 'N' Roll singers like Katy Perry and Justin Bieber, Godless professional sports that idolize talent instead of wisdom, lewd Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and sex-perverted Sports Illustrated, sinful establishments like “SIN CITY” Las Vegas, satanic secular education that abandons God—and everything else that is alienated from God! I could name thousands of Godless things, literally.
James 4:4 plainly warns that this world is “ENMITY” (feelings of hostility) with God. James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
The word “enmity” in James 4:4 is the Greek word echthra which means “hostility; by implication a reason for opposition.” In other words, being a friend of the sinful world is as offensive to God as if you committed adultery. The Bible even calls us spiritual “ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES” when we befriend the world. What does it mean here to be a “FRIEND” of the world? The word “friend” here is the Greek word philos and means, “Properly dear, that is, a friend; actively fond, that is, friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor.” A picture is worth 1,000 words. In Genesis Genesis 13:12, “Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Genesis 14:12, “And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
p
John 6:29, “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
There are no crown-wearers in Heaven who were not cross-bearers down here.
j
