Strangers in a Foreign Land
1John 2:15-17

Today I visited a good friend of mine. Billy Craig has been dying of terminal cancer for more than a year now. The Ministerial group that I associate with went to his home in Creswell and spent some time praying and crying over our brother. Billy, really doesn't look like Billy anymore. His facial features are the same but he has lost that zip, his eyes, his body looks tired.

It is in these moments that I am so glad that this life is only temporary. I am so glad I am not stuck here in this body forever. I have a hope, I have a promise knowing my God is watching over me.

In 1 John 2, John points out that we are not to love this world. It is not our only stopping place. Sure, we are here because we have to be, but our place is in eternity with our father in heaven. We are citizens of heaven, as Paul writes in the book of Philippians.

The Philippian people would have understood that concept a lot better than us. Philippi was on the edge of the Roman Empire, it had been controlled by Romans for less than 100 years. Those in Philippi had belonged to the Persian Empire and kept it's culture and practices, while there land was controled by Rome. They were citizens (as far as they were concerned) of Persia, yet they were held in control by Rome and pledge Ceasar as their ruler.

We live here on earth, but we pledge our loyalty, we live for our Father in Heaven, strangers in a foreign land.