Not of This World

I mentioned earlier the recent conference at Rockport Baptist Church, the theme of which focused on the reality that Christians are aliens and strangers in this alien and strange world.  As the U. S. Supreme Court hears arguments on same sex marriage, as ISIS continues its rampage against all things of Christ, as more and more people are finding it hard to stand for truth (emotionally, physically, and even now legally), I am reminded more and more of this truth.  This World Is Not Our Home. 

Ever since the conference, there is one song in particular that I just can't get out of my head.  An old song from the classic Christian rock band Petra (don't worry, it's a "slow" one!).  In 1983, the release an album titled "Not of This World."  A great record by the way, but I digress.  The title song reminds us of these truths:

We are pilgrims in a strange land
We are so far from our homeland
With each passing day it seems so clear
This world will never want us here
We're not welcome in this world of wrong
We are foreigners who don't belong

We are strangers, we are aliens
We are not of this world

We are envoys, we must tarry
With this message we must carry
There's so much to do before we leave
With so many more who may believe
Our mission here can never fail
And the gates of hell will not prevail

 We are strangers, we are aliens
We are not of this world  

Jesus told us men would hate us
But we must be of good cheer
He has overcome this world of darkness
And soon we will depart from here

We are strangers, we are aliens
We are not of this world

This world doesn't want us here.  We are not welcome.  Jesus told us men would hate us.  What great reminders.  For too long we've lived as if we belong here, and we're offended when folks don't like us, when our "rights" are violated, etc.  But this is not our home!  We don't belong.  We are not of this world.  

Don't get me wrong, as an American citizen I get as upset as anyone when our rights and freedoms, so hard fought for, are stripped away. I've ranted here many times about that.  But that's my American citizenship flaring up.  My Kingdom citizenship reminds me that the other is only temporary, and that regardless of what the Supreme Court decides, regardless of what ISIS does, regardless of what this ever increasing pagan world throws at us; we are not of this world. One day, our King is coming.  One day, the Supreme Court will answer to the Supreme Judge.  One day, ISIS will stand before a holy God and answer for their hatred of Him.  One day, the King will return and establish His Kingdom, and then, and only then, will all things be made right. 

Until then, we are envoys and we must tarry, with this message we must carry.  The message:  Christ is King.  Men are lost and dead in Sin.  Jesus died to pay for sin and rose to show us the way home.  Repent and believe.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him.  And He is coming!  Amen, come quickly, Lord Jesus!