Wayfaring Stranger - 1 Peter 1:17

1 Peter 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. (NIV)

            One of my favorite Appalachian songs, which was recorded by Johnny Cash years ago, is called the ‘Wayfaring Stranger.’ It’s a beautiful hymn with a haunting mountain melody. I love the plain, simple lyrics which express faith in terms of being on a journey and that we are all merely pilgrims passing through the Earth, heading toward our real destination of Heaven. The whole song tells me that this planet is not my home; it’s just a temporary station that I will leave one day in order to go and abide in God’s country.

            The great apostle Peter also wrote about this 1900 years ago when he reminded Christians all over the Empire that they were all merely foreigners living in the world. No matter where they existed, what people they belonged to, or even what culture they came from, Christians were not meant to anchor themselves to a particular place or time. According to Peter, followers of Christ were sojourners who resided in the world temporarily and who could look forward to being at one with God in His Everlasting Kingdom. In other words, a Christian does not put down his or her roots anywhere on this planet; he or she is a wayfaring stranger traveling home to be with God.

Point to ponder

How much do I tie myself to the world? How prepared am I for the journey ahead beyond this life? Where is my true home?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, wherever You are will be both home and heaven for all of us. Keep reminding us that we are all merely passing through this world into the next. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about this message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called ‘Spirit of Water and Fire.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Spirit.