Journey in a Foreign Land
"I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts" (1 Peter 2:11)
Everyone knows that his time on earth is limited. We can compare our time here to journey in a foreign land. On this journey we gain many experiences and get insight into many things. But when the time comes for our journey here to end and we go to the place where we will remain forever, the question will be whether or not we have gained any wisdom that will be of value to us there, were we are going.
The experience of life can be compared to that of a student who is on a study tour in a foreign land. Perhaps the student may think only about having a good time while he is in the foreign country. Then when the tour is over, he finds that he has wasted all his money and his time. He has gained nothing related to the original intent and purpose of the trip. This is exactly how it is for many believers here in the world. They are called to live with Jesus for all eternity, and yet all they think about on their journey here in this world is being well-thought-of and being looked upto by others. As a result, when their time on earth is over and they enter into eternity, the treasures and wisdom that they have gathered during their lifetime on earth are totally useless for heaven.
Every believer has a heavenly calling. But there are many temptation in the world, and the choices a person makes determine the kind of inner content he will gain on his journey in life. Those who choose God's will, gain true wisdom from the trials that they encounter in life. Each time they deny themselves and do God's will, they gain an experience that will be of lasting value in heaven. If they bless, when they are cursed, love when they are hated, and serve others instead of dominating and demanding, and give cheerfully instead of taking etc. then when their journey is over, they will have gathered treasures and wisdom in accordance with their calling, and that will be of value to them in their future together with Jesus (Revelations 3:16).
When a human being enters this world he doesn't understand anything. But when the time comes to leave this world he understands many things. All of the experiences, knowledge and wisdom gained in life reside in his spirit. We come into this world naked and we must leave it naked. We can't take any or the earthly things with us. "For we brought nothing into the world and so we cannot take anything out of the world" (1 Timothy 6:7). In this, the rich and the poor are alike. But what dwells in our spirit we take with us. This will be our wealth for all eternity. How sad it is when people gain only sinful experiences, and wisdom about earthly things and money, from their journey through life. With such people, even after a lifetime on this earth, all they can talk about is houses, furniture, clothes, food and many other earthly matters - matters that won't be even of the slightest use to them in eternity when their journey here is over.
Wake up then to the calling that you have! Begin to live with eternity in mind. Sanctify Jesus as Lord in your heart. This earthly journey is a familiar one for Him - for He came here and experienced all the temptations that any human being can ever experience (Hebrews 4:15). Today He desires to guide us by His Spirit so that at the end of our journey we can have great heavenly wealth.
Those who overcome in the times of temptation will recieve the crown of life (James 1:12). Those who have done God's will on earth will recieve a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7,8) (Acts 9:15,16). And those who have lived sacrificially for others will receive and unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4).
- Sigurd Bratlie
"I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts" (1 Peter 2:11)
Everyone knows that his time on earth is limited. We can compare our time here to journey in a foreign land. On this journey we gain many experiences and get insight into many things. But when the time comes for our journey here to end and we go to the place where we will remain forever, the question will be whether or not we have gained any wisdom that will be of value to us there, were we are going.
The experience of life can be compared to that of a student who is on a study tour in a foreign land. Perhaps the student may think only about having a good time while he is in the foreign country. Then when the tour is over, he finds that he has wasted all his money and his time. He has gained nothing related to the original intent and purpose of the trip. This is exactly how it is for many believers here in the world. They are called to live with Jesus for all eternity, and yet all they think about on their journey here in this world is being well-thought-of and being looked upto by others. As a result, when their time on earth is over and they enter into eternity, the treasures and wisdom that they have gathered during their lifetime on earth are totally useless for heaven.
Every believer has a heavenly calling. But there are many temptation in the world, and the choices a person makes determine the kind of inner content he will gain on his journey in life. Those who choose God's will, gain true wisdom from the trials that they encounter in life. Each time they deny themselves and do God's will, they gain an experience that will be of lasting value in heaven. If they bless, when they are cursed, love when they are hated, and serve others instead of dominating and demanding, and give cheerfully instead of taking etc. then when their journey is over, they will have gathered treasures and wisdom in accordance with their calling, and that will be of value to them in their future together with Jesus (Revelations 3:16).
When a human being enters this world he doesn't understand anything. But when the time comes to leave this world he understands many things. All of the experiences, knowledge and wisdom gained in life reside in his spirit. We come into this world naked and we must leave it naked. We can't take any or the earthly things with us. "For we brought nothing into the world and so we cannot take anything out of the world" (1 Timothy 6:7). In this, the rich and the poor are alike. But what dwells in our spirit we take with us. This will be our wealth for all eternity. How sad it is when people gain only sinful experiences, and wisdom about earthly things and money, from their journey through life. With such people, even after a lifetime on this earth, all they can talk about is houses, furniture, clothes, food and many other earthly matters - matters that won't be even of the slightest use to them in eternity when their journey here is over.
Wake up then to the calling that you have! Begin to live with eternity in mind. Sanctify Jesus as Lord in your heart. This earthly journey is a familiar one for Him - for He came here and experienced all the temptations that any human being can ever experience (Hebrews 4:15). Today He desires to guide us by His Spirit so that at the end of our journey we can have great heavenly wealth.
Those who overcome in the times of temptation will recieve the crown of life (James 1:12). Those who have done God's will on earth will recieve a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7,8) (Acts 9:15,16). And those who have lived sacrificially for others will receive and unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4).
- Sigurd Bratlie
