Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen. [1Pe 1:1 NASB]
Peter here is writing to the believers in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Do you notice what he calls the believers? Aliens. In 1 Peter 2:11 he refers to them not only as aliens, but also strangers.
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. [1Pe 2:11 NASB]
If Peter is referring to them as aliens and strangers, what are they aliens and strangers from? The answer is the world. Not “the world” as in sin in this world, but literally living here on earth at this time. This is not my home. I am an alien. I am a stranger. The United States is not my home. Arkansas is not my home. Even Siloam Springs is not my home. My home, my nation, is with my King. 2 Corinthians 5:8 tells us, “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Did you notice where home was? With the Lord. The word home here means “to be among one’s own people, to dwell in one’s own country.” Oh, how I long to be in my country with my King, in a world that does not hate me so. We should never be surprised when the world desires sin and not righteousness.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [1Jo 3:1-2 ESV]
Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. [1Jo 3:13 ESV]
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [Jhn 15:18-19 ESV]
So, if the world hates us and this is not our home, what should we do? I think Jeremiah 29 gives us some great insight into this question. This passage is written to the Jews of Jerusalem, like Daniel, who have been exiled for 70 years—a lifetime. They are exiles, strangers, aliens and this passage tells them what they should do during this time.
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. [Jeremiah 29:4-7 ESV]
We are to live. We are the fertilizer, but while we are here, we seek and pray for the welfare of the city where we reside. Its welfare is our welfare. Let’s pray for the welfare of our exile nation and exile city. For as we live here, even though it is not my home, its welfare will be mine and my family’s welfare.
Then after telling the Jews how to live He reminds them, "For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” [Jer 29:10-12 ESV] At the end of their exile the Lord would send the Jews home.
He has great plans for me. He has a great home for me. One filled with righteousness and peace. This is not my home!
Reflection Questions:
- Do you feel like a stranger or alien when you are around non-believers, even those within your own family? If so, does knowing you are an alien to this world comfort you?
- Do you feel most comfortable when you are with a body of believers, ones from your heavenly family, or with a group living like the world?
Is your life, the choices you make, and why you make those choices seem unfamiliar and odd to the world, or are they ones the world would praise, love, and seems no different than their own lives?
Reflection Song:
