Life Perspective!

We live in a Victorian seaport community where the biggest industry is tourism. Though we have been residents of this community for going on twenty-six years, my wife and I still enjoy playing tourist from time to time; going in and out of the shops and looking out over the water. As my wife and I sat eating lunch yesterday in one of our favorite restaurants by the bay, we discussed some of the differences between viewing life from the standpoint of being a TOURIST, a RESIDENT, or a SOJOURNER.

A TOURIST may be one who is on vacation, simply leisurely enjoying the sights. No schedule. No "to do" lists. Just doing what they want when they want to do it.

A RESIDENT would be one who lives there and may take for granted some of the things that delight the visitors. They may feel very settled in and at home where they are.

A SOJOURNER is far from settled. Their life is continually moving along and though events and sights along the way may be enjoyable, life is not viewed as a vacation. Nor is there a sense of being at home. For the sojourner there is a destination being traveled toward.

So, as we go about living our daily lives, are we sight-seeing, settled, or sojourning? The Hebrew writer noted those living by faith in the following way.
"(13) These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE STRANGERS AND EXILES ON THE EARTH. (14) For people who speak thus make it clear that they are SEEKING A HOMELAND. (15) If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. (16) But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." ( Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV)

The Greek word translated "exiles" in verse 13 is "parepidemos", which is "an adjective signifying 'sojourning in a strange place, away from one's own people'". This word is "used metaphorically of those to whom Heaven is their own country, and who are sojourners on earth." [source: W.E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words] In verse 15, the Greek translated "homeland" is "patris" which refers to the place of one's "fathers" or "fatherland". It is the realm of our Heavenly Father we ought to keep in mind as our true homeland and the destiny to which we continue to journey. May our SOJOURN continue as we fulfill the purposes of God for this life.

Have a great day KEEPING OUR HEAVENLY DESTINY IN VIEW!
Carl

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