To the pilgrims

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, - 1 Peter 1v1

Parepidēmos. The word refers to a stranger, a pilgrim, a resident in a foreign land, or an alien. It refers to a person who lives one place, but has another home. We see earthly examples of this in all kinds of situations. Ambassadors, soldiers, business people, and missionaries move to foreign lands and reside there as strangers.

This is the word Peter uses to describe believers scattered all over the known world. Indeed they are strangers and pilgrims in their new lands in a physical sense, but there is another sense of the word. Not only were these believers pilgrims and strangers in a physical sense, but they are strangers and pilgrims in the spiritual sense.

There are times when people change their homes to a new physical location and are no longer pilgrims in that land. They grow to love their new land and choose to move their heart and affections to that new home. They may even change their citizenship to legally make that place their home.

However, for believers the mark of stranger is one of distinction and honour. Believers are citizens of heaven. Believers are, or should be, perpetual pilgrims. This world is not and should never be our home. We live here, we work and play here, but we must never feel at home here. When we start to feel at home here there is a problem. When our hearts and minds focus on the visible things of this world instead of the invisible things of our true home we are bound to become more like this world.

This world is not my home, I am just passing through. I am a pilgrim, a stranger, and an alien until the day God calls me home.

May we never be comfortable in the land of our sojourning.