Christians are a strange breed. They do not seem to fit in the world in which they live.  They seem to be pulled from two directions, two worlds vastly apart and different.  Those who compromise to fit in this world feel contempt from the heavenly realms and those who strive to fit in with the heavenly realms experience intolerance from those who relish the lower realm living.

 One servant of God recently conveyed:  “We (passionate followers of Jesus) are living between the ‘already’ and the ‘not yet.’  Even though the trials of this present life may seem as if they threaten to consume us, they are not the final word.”  Gospel song writer, Albert Brumley, aptly wrote: “This world is not my home; I’m just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.”  This has ever been the mind set of those believers who have cared about pleasing God rather than themselves or the systems and people of this world.  The Christian must live here, but it is just temporary.  He comes to understand that the things that really matter for eternity are those that have connections and roots in the other world (the heavenly realm).

 One of the suffering saints of the first century Church wrote under Divine inspiration concerning the earliest saints, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims of the earth.”  Those two words, “strangers and pilgrims” describe best the Christians' situation in this life.  “Strangers” are those away from home and “pilgrims” are those headed for a new home.

 Dear Christian friend, if you feel out of place in this world, you are not alone; nevertheless, you feel so because it is so.  However, we must not feel sorry for ourselves.  What we see, feel, and experience now is not all there is.  “Just one glimpse of Christ in glory will the toils of life repay.”  We must be busy in work that matters in this world and the one to come.  Jesus told us, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (necessities of life) shall be added unto you.”  He said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt, and thieves do not break through and steal.”

 We here at BBN are fellow pilgrims.  As we proceed towards our new home we can sing…