Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:36-38, NKJV).
This world is not our home. We, as Christians, are sojourners here, pilgrims, ambassadors, light, and salt, but not permanent residents. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:20, NKJV).
We are the descendants of a long line of wanderers, bought with a price, redeemed from this world and the slavery of sin by the blood of Christ. [For we wait] for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10, NKJV).
Losing sight of our true home is a sure prescription for intense heartache. If we hold on too tightly to the things, and people, of this world, we loosen our grasp on Christ our Savior, and that is dangerous, for He is our only true anchor. The world, and the things of the world, are passing away.
It will burn, and its elements will melt in a fervent heat. It is made of stuff which can be shaken and destroyed.
Look around.
So for our own sanity and peace, we should devote everything we are and have to that which cannot be shaken, to that which is eternal.
In many ways, that means we recognize that however precious or beautiful or delightful - or horrible - our temporal circumstances may be, they are by no means more than a momentary light joy - or affliction - in comparison to the unending span of heavenly - or hell-bound - existence in the life to come.
As His wanderers on the earth, we understand the simple truth that humans, who are made in God's image, cannot be unmade. It is NOT you are born, you live, and you die in oblivion.
No, you are immortal, whether you want to be or not, and you WILL survive physical death. The only question, an ancient one posed since the Fall of Man, is WHERE will you survive; Heaven or Hell?
This terrifying knowledge enables our state of mind while alive on this planet to be that of wanderers, not seeking a homeland, for we know where we are destined through faith in God's Son, but following His lead through this wilderness as our Great Shepherd.
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28, NKJV).
In a practical sense, it also follows that, like all those saints who lived and died before us - that great cloud of witness spoken of in the next chapter, we realize that nothing in this life is worth renouncing or forfeiting our heavenly citizenship. Nothing.
This is not justification for Christian pacifism or inaction, for we should fervently endeavor to always do and fight for what is right, as the Lord leads each one of us individually. But this is an essential component of realizing why the truth makes us free.
The ultimate result of the struggle is already known. God wins. His Son has already been victorious on the Cross, making us, His followers, more than conquerors.
Nevertheless, we fight the good fight. We run the race. And we do so for the glory of the Lord.
But as His wanderers, immersed in His truth, we are protected from the despair of making our allegiance to the world.
[For] the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:17, NKJV).
