05/22/2022
In today’s business world, and in modern life in general, it seems like the mean spirited, the devious, and the scheming people often prosper, and the righteous are relegated to a life of less, but that is only true when we look at the world through the eyes we have borrowed from it. When we see success as the world sees it, and value what the world values, then we find that we are ill-equipped for life within it. Our eyes should be the transformed eyes of Jesus, and our treasure should be eternal… is this how we are gauging our success in life, and view the blessings God gives us as we wait for Him?
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
Psalm 37:7 ESV
I love psalm 37 because it reminds me that I am a pilgrim here on this earth, and that I am just passing through this foreign land on my way home. I am further reminded that while I walk through this place my God is always beside me, keeping my eyes fixed on the way that is true, and holding the unrighteous citizens of this place at bay.
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”
Psalm 37:5-6 ESV
When immigrants come into a land they bring with them the language, culture, faith, and foods of their homeland. They might be fleeing from some evil or hardship there, but they bring with them those ideas, and possessions, that they knew to be good about their native land. As believers in God, and Jesus Christ we know that our sin resulted in our being evicted from the home we had in Eden, and that we are now wandering the earth as followers of Jesus Christ seeking to become citizens of a new land. Our journey is to a New Jerusalem, an eternal place, a home just beyond the distant border of this earthly place that is righteous, and filled with our Holy Father’s glory.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:1-2 ESV
Like many immigrants we are looking for something better, safer, and more secure than where we were. These can be tangible things, but as Christian’s we are searching for more than the earthly representation of Justice, happiness, peace, or freedom; we are not only immigrants, or refugees, who seek these things in a new place, but pilgrims who are searching for an ethereal life with God. We are traveling through this physical life in search of spiritual completeness, love, peace, joy, and the return to something that sin banished us from… we are looking for an inner purity, and to reclaim in full the righteous relationship we once had with God. These are not native to the earth, so day by day we travel on, praying with every sunrise, and seeking our heavenly home beyond the sunset. As we travel we look for our home through eyes that are capable of recognizing it. By looking at the earth through the eyes of the Lord.
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him... ”
2 Chronicles 16:9 ESV
So how are we gauging our success, and what is truly important? Are we looking, and judging ourselves through the eyes of the world, or have our eyes been transformed so that they see just as the eyes of Christ do? Is our vision that of an earthly immigrant, or is it being perfected day by day into that of a righteous pilgrim? Are we placing our treasure on earth into proper perspective?
“Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.”
Psalm 37:16-17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for this pilgrimage we find ourselves on, and for your Son Jesus who has redeemed us from sin, and set our feet on this road towards home. Help us Lord to see through your eyes, and not the eyes of the world as we are passing through this place. Protect us against the temptations and evil that swirl about us, and equip us in faith to ward off any desire to remain here, and become citizens of this place. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calls us home. Praised be your name for every earthly danger you protect us against, and each sip you offer us from the Cup of the New Covenant as we are being prepared for our arrival. Worthy are you Lord for our eternal worship and adoration. Merciful are you who sent your only begotten Son to redeem us, and your Holy Spirit to guide us. Your grace and mercy are sufficient Father, and allows us to sleep peacefully in the midst of the world, because you watch over us and protect us from our many enemies who dwell here, and roam the night.
Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and open the gates of your kingdom upon our arrival. Let the sound of the singing within bring us to tears, and our joy overcome us as we sing praises in your presence. Call us worthy in that moment, and let us see your face through the eyes of Jesus; welcome us home, and announce us as your returning children… home for all eternity.
“Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.”
Psalm 37:37-38 ESV
Rich Forbes