Strangers

Just like the astronauts were strangers on the moon, we who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior become strangers on this earth:

So live your lives as strangers here. (1 Peter 1:17 NIV)

We are reminded over-and-over again that once we become a child of our Father in Heaven, we are no longer of this world:

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19 KJV)

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36 KJV)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2 KJV)

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15 KJV)

“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14 KJV)

And he said unto them, “Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23 KJV)

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16 KJV)

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12 KJV)

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20-21 KJV)

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2 KJV)

So how should we live?:

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:14‭-‬15 NLT)

Not only are the souls and spirits of the believers not of this world, the Lord will gather up every speck of dust of which our mortal bodies were made of, and remove it from this world:

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‭-‬18 NLT)

This world we call the earth will pass away forever:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. (Revelation 21:1)

Allow these verses I have listed to be a sobering reminder of who loves and owns you, and where your priorities should be!

I can’t wait to meet these heroes in the faith who have gone before me:

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. (Hebrews 11:35‭-‬38 NLT)