Living as an alien

"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul."  -1 Peter

I see a problem in my life and in the lives of others around me....we view this world as our home.  Our efforts to change our cultures, our laws, and the government speak to our attachment to and identity with the world we live in.  For most of us this is home and so we invest in "here".

But the bible is clear that we are aliens, strangers, on our way to our real home.  Aliens, strangers and travelers aren't focused on who is ruling the governments of this world.  They know this is just a resting place, a stop on the way home to another country.  An opportunity to show the world how a human being should live.

Some understood it, some lived as aliens, here is a brief commentary on their lives,

"All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been ^[l]thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 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 a city for them."  Hebrews 11

Aliens, strangers, exiles look for home and live as aliens.  A few of these people are mentioned in Hebrews 11.  Men and women with an identity connected to another world.  They held a loose grip on the things of this world.  

They loved eternal things and the people around them.  They served a king other than the one ruling the country where they lived, whatever country that was.  They were aliens living like strangers in the world around them.

I fear we, myself included, are getting too invested in this world, both physically, emotionally and financially and not invested in eternal things.  We are attached to the things around us and have a tight grip on this world.  I wonder if that's why so many are speaking out about politics and our influence on leadership in our country.  They fear the changes around them and are trying to change our directions, but is this what Christ followers should be focused on?  What if the direction we are going is all part of God's plan for the end of days?  

Frankly, aliens don't worry about such things.  They live for another world, for a different king, their eyes on another destination and they are noticeably different from the world around them.  They love God and love people and talk of heaven. Do we look like aliens, live like aliens?  Do we have our eyes on another land or on this one?  Is our peace shaken by the governments of the world or do we have our eyes on the King, seated on the throne?

If this is home then great fear comes when things go badly around us.  If we are just visiting then the world around us can unravel and we are at peace, trusting God.  

The world is unraveling.  

Does it cause fear or anticipation in you?  

That depends on what you consider "home".  

What kingdom are you living for?  

What king do you serve?