A Pilgrim on Earth: Journeying Towards Eternal Glory
Today, I want to invite you to consider a profound truth about our identity as Christians, a truth that shapes our perspective and guides our lives: We are pilgrims on this earth.
The apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 2:11, issues this crucial exhortation: "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul." He calls us "foreigners and exiles," which in other translations might be rendered as "strangers and pilgrims." This echoes the powerful truth found in Philippians 3:20: "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."
This world is not our home. We are merely passing through. Our true citizenship, our true home, lies in heaven. Understanding this identity transforms how we live, how we think, and how we interact with the world around us.
So, how do we live as pilgrims on this earth? Let's explore five essential aspects of this sacred journey.
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I. The Pilgrim Must Be Prepared for the Journey
Before setting out on any significant journey, preparation is key. For the spiritual pilgrim, this preparation involves fundamental spiritual transformations.
A. Be born again (John 3:3-5): This is the absolute starting point. Jesus told Nicodemus, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again... Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." This is not merely a change of mind or behavior, but a supernatural work of God, a new birth that gives us spiritual life and the capacity to perceive and enter God's Kingdom. It is essential to even begin to see and truly enter the Kingdom.
B. Be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38): Peter's call on the Day of Pentecost was clear: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Baptism is an outward sign of an inward transformation, a public declaration of our identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Only with sins forgiven can we truly advance on this pilgrimage, free from the burden of guilt and condemnation.
C. Become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17): Being a pilgrim isn't about simply adding Christian practices to an old life; it's about radical transformation. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" There must be a real, internal transformation, a putting off of the old self and a putting on of the new, in Christ. This new creation enables us to walk a new path.
II. The Pilgrim Must Have Faith
Faith is the indispensable fuel and compass for the pilgrim's journey. Without it, the journey cannot be completed.
A. Without faith, the journey cannot be completed (Hebrews 11:6): "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction of what we do not see.
B. Enoch walked by faith (Hebrews 11:5): "By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God." His faith led him to walk so closely with God that he pleased Him and was taken up.
C. Abraham obeyed by faith (Hebrews 11:8-10): "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going... For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." Abraham left everything familiar, following God's call to an unknown land, trusting in a promise he could not yet see.
D. Moses chose by faith (Hebrews 11:24-27): "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter... He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." Moses renounced temporal pleasures and earthly power for an eternal reward, choosing suffering with God's people over the fleeting riches of Egypt. These pilgrims trusted God's promises even when they could not see the way.
III. No Pilgrim Survives Without Spiritual Equipment
A traveler on a long and often dangerous journey requires proper gear. For the Christian pilgrim, this means spiritual armor.
A. Clothed in the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17): Paul urges us, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." This includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace as shoes, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Each piece is essential for defense and offense in our spiritual battles.
B. The Word is our offensive weapon (2 Corinthians 10:5): While all parts of the armor are vital, the Word of God serves as our primary offensive weapon. We are called to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." This is done by wielding the truth of Scripture against the lies and temptations of the enemy.
IV. It Is Not Enough to Begin; We Must Know How to Walk
Starting the journey is one thing; knowing how to navigate it daily is another. The pilgrim's walk must be intentional and Spirit-led.
A. With wisdom (Colossians 4:5): "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Walking with wisdom means discerning God's will in everyday situations, making choices that honor Him, and facing the challenges of the journey with divine insight.
B. Walking in the Spirit (Romans 8:1): "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." We are called to walk not according to the flesh, indulging our sinful desires, but according to the Spirit, allowing Him to guide and empower us.
C. Walking in the light (1 John 1:7): "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." Walking in the light means living in transparency, honesty, and purity before God and others. It also means reflecting the light of Christ to a dark world, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:14-16: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden... In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
V. There Is a Glorious Goal for Those Who Reach the End
The pilgrim's journey, though challenging, is filled with hope because of the magnificent destination that awaits those who persevere.
A. Eternal Rest (Hebrews 4:9): "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God." This is a glorious rest promised by God, a cessation from earthly toil, struggle, and sin.
B. Perpetual delights in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11; Revelation 7:16-17; 21:4):
• Psalm 16:11 declares, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
• In Revelation 7:16-17, those who have passed through the great tribulation "will hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
• And in Revelation 21:4, we are promised, "‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
C. The crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8): Paul, near the end of his pilgrimage, confidently stated, "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." This is a reward reserved for the faithful, for those who complete the journey.
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Conclusion
My dear brothers and sisters, let us never forget who we truly are. We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. As Hebrews 11:10 and 11:16 remind us, Abraham "was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God," and the faithful of old "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."
May we prepare ourselves diligently, walk by unwavering faith, equip ourselves with God's spiritual armor, live wisely and in the Spirit, and keep our eyes fixed on the glorious goal that awaits us. For the journey is worth it, and the destination is eternal glory with our King.
Amen.
