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by Suzanne Benner
Sometimes I feel restless and sometimes I don't feel restless enough. Let me explain. I get these antsy moments when I feel like a job would give me more purpose or a move would bring more excitement into my life. Then there are intervals in which everything is going well. I like my neighbours; we have a good income; the kids are happy.
I have found that being content isn't always a good thing. Discontentment can be a signal from my soul, not to spice up my life with a change, but a reminder that, "We are not citizens of earth - our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20) When my soul is restless it is because I am longing for something that I will never get here on earth. Conversely, we often get too comfortable with life here, forgetting that we were made for more than this.
The heroes of our faith didn't build three car garages, they lived in tents. That was because they knew this life wasn't permanent. They were looking ahead to something better. They considered themselves "aliens and strangers on earth" (Hebrews 11:13).
Considering myself a stranger here should transform the way I live.
"They were longing for a better country - a heavenly one" (Hebrews 11:16). I need to start looking for a better country, one where right prevails, where Jesus is Lord, where truth is known and lived by all.
Rather than longing for the day when the kids will graduate, so that I will have more time on my own, I need to long for the day when I will be with Christ. I need to increase my yearning by focusing on Jesus. I must strengthen my longing by living like a stranger here. But how do we live like strangers? The Word of God has specific instruction:
- Keep yourself from sin. "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul" (1 Peter 2:11).
- Be selfless. Our own emotions do not define how we live. "What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not" (1 Corinthians 7:29,30).
- Don't be consumed by possessions, instead be generous. "Those who buy something, [should live] as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away" (1 Corinthians 7:30,31).
- Love and honor God; be holy. "Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear (1 Peter 1:17).
- Admit our status as aliens and yearn for Christ's return. "And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them" (Hebrews 11:13-16).
"Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling" (2 Corinthians 5:2).
Holy God, help me to understand what it means to live as a stranger here on earth. Help me not to be caught up with or consumed by the temporary things around me. Instead let me live for You and long for Jesus' return.
If you prayed this prayer, or would like to share how this article encouraged you, drop us an e-mail. We'd love to hear from you, and would be happy to send you some information that will help you implement the principles in this article.
~ Suzanne Benner lives in Calgary, Canada with her husband and three school-aged children. She leads a small group Bible study in her local church and is passionate about Scripture memorization.
