July 14th

“Life on earth”

Pr. Silvana

-         Life on earth is temporary, extremely brief.

-         “I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.” (Psalm 119.19)

-         Earth is not our permanent home or final destination.  It’s like a “foreign country”.  We are just passing through… we are like “aliens, pilgrims, foreigners, strangers, visitors, travelers” on earth.

-         Our homeland is heaven. This world is not our home.

—  2 Corinthians 5:20 – “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^”

—  Ambassador = A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time (from American Heritage Talking Dictionary.)

—  When we understand that we are ambassadors of Christ here on earth, we stop worrying about material prosperity, “having it all”, or popular success as the world wants – our values and our priorities change. We are representing God on earth (His desires, His plans, not ours). We should speak, see and behave like Him.

—  Philippians 3:19-20 – “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame (talking about the enemies of the cross of Christ). Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

—  Hebrews 11:13 – (talking about the “heroes of faith”) “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.”

—  1 Peter 1:17 – “Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.^”

1 Peter 2:11 – “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.^”

As ambassadors, envoys, we have a mission to accomplish - we are “in mission”. Our temporary life here on earth has a specific purpose – we were assigned to fulfill God’s purpose.

Our job/career, relationships, family, ministry, etc… must have a purpose and be in accordance with the will of God.

Read the words of the song below and check if you 

are also “not of this world”:

Not Of This World  (PETRA)

  

We are pilgrims in a strange land

We are so far from our homeland
With each passing day it seems so clear

This world will never want us here
We're not welcome in this world of wrong

We are foreigners who don't belong

We are strangers, we are aliens , we are not of this world

We are envoys, we must tarry

With this message we must carry
There's so much to do before we leave

With so many more who may believe
Our mission here can never fail

And the gates of hell will not prevail

Jesus told us men would hate us

but we must be of good cheer
He has overcome this world of darkness

and soon we’ll depart from here

Now, you can sing along: