Have you ever felt like a "duck out of water"? Have you ever felt uncomfortable,
out of place, like you just didn't belong? Perhaps you went somewhere in casual
clothes, while everyone else was in more formal attire, and you felt rather
conspicuous and out of it. Or maybe you found yourself in a group of people
who were swearing or telling off-color jokes, and you didn't quite know what to
do or how to react. Or you go to a birthday party, but are the only one who
forgot to bring a gift. Or maybe the gift you brought is obviously the cheapest,
and the recipient can barely hide her disappointment. From time to time, we all
feel conspicuous or out of place, like we don't belong.
According to these Scripture passages, God's people, Christians, should always
feel somewhat out of place in this world. They ought to feel like strangers,
pilgrims, aliens, like "ducks out of water," out of their proper environment. The
Psalmist said, "I am a stranger on earth" (Psalm 119:19a). The phrase, "wherever
I lodge," in verse 54, literally means: "in my temporary house." According to
Hebrews 11, the "heroes of the faith" "admitted that they were aliens and
strangers on earth" (verse 13). Peter describes his Christian readers as "aliens
and strangers in the world."
As strangers in the world, we are disturbed by many things. Our own mortality
can be distressing. Children grow up and parents grow old. In the countryside,
one can see many abandoned farm places. At one time the houses were probably
dream homes, but are now dilapidated and the people are long gone. If you have
not seen the friends and acquaintances of your youth lately, it might surprise you
to see that they now have gray hair. It reminds us that we are growing older, and
that life is going by rapidly.
Also distressing is the fact that bad things happen to basically good people, to
God's people. There was a fine Christian woman, who was very active in her
church. Once she took her son's paper route while he was at a Cadet camp-out.
Somewhere along the line she fell, severely damaging her ankle. In fact, later
she ended up on crutches. Although in considerable pain, she wanted to finish
the route before going to the doctor. To save a few agonizing steps, she hobbled
across a lawn. Halfway across, the door opened and an angry voice shouted:
"What's the matter with you, walking on the grass? Someone your age ought to
know better."
She saw some humor in that later. Other things that happen to us are no laughing
matter; not now, not ever. They are downright distressing or discouraging, and
remind us of how vulnerable we really are.
The Psalmist was well aware of his weakness and frailty. In the Psalms we read
of both high and low points in the life of faith. Like the Psalmist, there are times
when, spiritually speaking, we feel like we could "soar with the eagles." A short
time later, however, we seem to be waddling around like penguins. Our own
instability can be distressing.
Something that ought to distress us is when God is ignored or dishonored. The
Psalmist said: "Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken
your law" (119:53). When God's law is broken, people get hurt, God is offended,
and society suffers the consequences.
Whether we observe it or experience it, we know that life is simply unfair. For
example, God's good gifts are not evenly distributed. Professional athletes earn
far more than farmers, although farmers' work is far more important. Athletes
merely amuse us; farmers actually feed us. Injustice occurs every day, in all
aspects of human life. The problems of the world seem so overwhelming that we
are tempted to just throw up our hands in despair.
But strangers in the world are not alone in the world. In one Bible version, Psalm
119:49-56 is entitled: "God's Word is my comfort and guide whatever the
circumstances." The Psalmist wrote, "My comfort in my suffering is this: your
promise preserves my life" (119:50). "I remember your ancient laws, O Lord,
and I find comfort in them" (verse 52). He found comfort not only in Scripture,
but in Scripture's Author: "You have given me hope" (verse 49).
A Christian author once said: "Life is unfair. Get over it!" His point was that in
an imperfect world filled with imperfect people problems are inevitable, so don't
expect too much. While our life's "book" will certainly have a happy ending,
there is some sadness on almost every page.
Children soon discover that life isn't fair. There are times in your lives when
bruised knees or broken dreams have brought tears to your eyes. You have
probably experienced how some children and older people can be downright
nasty or unkind. Maybe you yourselves said or did something that made you feel
bad, that gave you a guilty conscience. Life simply isn't fair. Some people have
great beauty or brains, health or wealth, while our portion seems rather small.
Diseases and accidents happen to both believers and unbelievers. The Bible
reminds us that while life may be unfair at times and people might be unkind,
God is always just and loving.
Peter reminds his readers that they are "God's elect, strangers in the world...who
have been chosen" (I Peter 1:1, 2). Being God's chosen people does not keep us
from life's storms, but it is our security in life's storms. Another Psalmist reminds
us that "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." When
we are in the midst of a "storm," we usually ask God to calm it. Until he does,
we may pray: "Lord, keep me afloat during this storm." The sea around us might
be raging but in our hearts there can be the peace of God.
Psalm 4 says: "Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord
will hear when I call to him" (verse 3). Children, young people, and adults need
to know that they are children of God. The awareness of God's presence helped
Jacob on his way (Genesis 28:12ff). Once he was alone under the stars, running
for his life, when he saw a stairway with angels on it. He woke up and said,
"Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.... How awesome is
this place!" Then he continued his journey.
If only we could live each moment of every day with that awareness, thinking:
"Surely the Lord is in this place and in my life. Because of that, How awesome
is this place, and how awesome is life itself and eternal life!" Even though you
might feel out of place at times, feel as though you don't belong, you do belong
to your Savior.
Because you belong to him, live for him. Peter writes: "I urge you, as aliens and
strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your
soul" (I Peter 2:11). Abstaining is not a very popular concept. Yet young and
older people need to abstain from the sinful desires that war against our souls.
Parents, teachers or pastors might say it, too, but first of all it is your God, your
Savior, who says: "Abstain from sinful desires." He does not want us to lose the
battle for our souls.
It is hard enough to abstain from sinful words and actions, how can we abstain
from sinful desires? Perhaps we can't keep inappropriate thoughts from crossing
our minds from time to time, but we can keep them from staying there. We can't
prevent them from using the road, but we can put up "No Parking" signs, and we
can enforce that rule.
Peter urges us to live good lives among those who don't believe (I Peter 2:12).
Many people are concerned about treasures on earth, but Christians desire
spiritual riches. Christians are thankful for what they do have, not angry or bitter
about what they do not have. Christians confess and repent of their faults, but are
not obsessed with them. They know that they have physical, mental, emotional,
financial limitations. They accept God's love and forgiveness, and do their best.
A man once claimed that he was a "war baby," that his parents had taken one
look at him and started fighting. Like him, everyone one of us has limitations,
whether real or imagined, limitations that we have to live with. The good news is
that God loves us!
Hopefully we, God's children, never waste our time wishing for things that
others have, or wishing that we were more beautiful, athletic or intelligent than
we are. Hopefully we realize how beautiful and special we are in the eyes of
God and in the eyes of those who love us. Hopefully we enjoy ourselves, our
lives, our Lord, and develop the unique gifts he has given us. Hopefully we seek
first God's kingdom and God's will for our lives. Hopefully we will be the best
that we can be, for God's glory and for our own good.
Though we travel as strangers or temporary residents, the Lord wants us to do
good along the way, and to promote the well-being of church and society. The
pilgrim Abraham was a great man of faith, who interceded for Sodom and
rescued Lot. Like Abraham, Peter urges believers to make a difference in this
world for God and for good. All of us are called to be part of God's Rescue
Squad, who throw out the lifeline, who fulfill our part of the Great Commission.
Many of us have been strangers at some time in our lives, newcomers to a
certain city or community. After living for awhile in a place, people usually
become more and more comfortable. They adjust, and may even adopt some of
the customs and traditions of their new home. In time, they no longer feel like
strangers.
Yet Scripture warns us not to become too comfortable here on earth. The Bible
does not promise us comfortable lives. It teaches us that our lives on earth are
temporary, and that, spiritually speaking, even when we are in the world we are
not of it. It informs us of the comfort that comes from knowing that we belong to
Jesus.
A company once sent pamphlets in the mail, containing the phrase: "an
investment in paradise." No place on earth is a "paradise." In reality, we make an
investment in the true Paradise when we commit our lives to Jesus. Paradise is
the place where we will never again feel alone, out of place, discouraged, or sad.
And as we travel there, we pray: "I am a stranger on earth.... Open my eyes that I
may see wonderful things in your law.... Your decrees are the theme of my song
wherever I lodge" (119:18,19a,54). AMEN.
