Living on Earth as Foreigners

Comments To Sabbath Schools Lesson #13, Qtr. #2

In the late 1980's, the Pop-Rock singer, Sting, released a song called "English Man in New York." As the title of the song indicates, the lyrics are about an Englishman living in New York. After many years this man still dressed as a Brit, walked with a cane, and enjoyed 4 o'clock tea- all British habits. "I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien, I'm an English man in New York," Sting quotes the man in the song.

Like Sting's friend, most foreigners are easy to spot. Their manner of dress, behavior and speech all give them away. Many foreigners are tourists, you can tell, because they take the time to sight see, and take pictures of what natives now take for granted. If you listen closely, the topic of conversation for tourists and foreigners differs from the topics which interest the locals. Locals don't often talk about their country as an entity outside of themselves, they refer to it as home. On the other hand, foreigners and tourists, while they may appear to be local, are usually making comparisons between their homeland or country of origin, and the land they are visiting. They miss the sights and smells of home. They miss the familiar. A local doesn't understand
the predicament of the visitor until he like the foreigner, becomes a visitor or traveler in a foreign land. No matter how great the land you visit is, there is no place like home.

As Christians we are foreigners. We do not belong on this earth. We are in the world, but not part of it (John 17: 13-16). The hymn says that we are just passing through. In Hebrews, it says those of us that walk by faith desire a better country (Hebrews 11:14-16). Those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Personal Savior have resigned any earthly and temporal citizenship and accepted a heavenly and eternal one. We cannot stop talking about our home, for although we have not yet seen it, by Faith we know it to be a better home than this world can ever offer. This is exciting! Just like earthly foreigners we cannot stop talking about it. For we are getting ready to leave and we are excited.

Isa 65:17 - For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the
former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isa 65:18 - But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create:
for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Isa 65:19 - And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and
the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of
crying.
Isa 65:20 - There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old
man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred
years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be
accursed.
Isa 65:21 - And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they
shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
Isa 65:22 - They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not
plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My
people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Isa 65:23 - They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble;
for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring
with them.
Isa 65:24 - And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will
answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Isa 65:25 - The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion
shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's
meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith
the Lord.

This is a beautiful promise. And what God promises He fulfills. In
Revelation, the city which is our home is described. It is beautiful
beyond our wildest dreams. We can't even begin to imagine its splendor and magnificence. This is where we are going. This is where we belong. As we think, talk, dress, and behave like the natives in that heavenly land now, we will fit in when we are finally home. Just as a foreigner longs to go home, so we long to go home. The greater the desire, the more we are not be able to stop talking about it. That is why to others, we appear as foreigners in this land. Going home is exciting when your loved ones are there, eagerly waiting and expecting your arrival. That kind of excitement is contagious. It is so contagious, that some locals, catching your emotion, will want to know about your home, and the love of those who are there. Perhaps they too will want to go with you.

Won't you let others catch your love and excitement? Won't you let them see you longing for heaven and for your loved Ones there? Are locals even able to look at you and say, "he is not from around here," or are you blending so well you can no longer be distinguished from them?

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