A Stranger In The Earth

3 of 22 from Psalm 119

Psalms 119:17-24  GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.  (18)  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.  (19)  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.  (20)  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.  (21)  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.  (22)  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.  (23)  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.  (24)  Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

            When I began Preaching back in 1997, one person that attended the services was an elderly black man.  His arms showed he had worked hard.  He still had good muscle tone, and his hands showed the callous of a working man’s hands.  (At this time, he was wheelchair bound and didn’t seem to know anyone.  A lot had been taken away from him.)  One day something awakened him and he wanted to sing for Jesus.  The song he sang was, “I’m Traveling On.” 

            His wife told me He was a Deacon in their Church, and had been a praying man since his youth.  That day out of the archives of his mind came a song that told he knew he was about to “move on,” and God called him home sometime later.

            We as Christians seem to forget that we are a “stranger in the earth.”  We are biding time, waiting for the Lord to call us home.  Just as Abraham sojourned (traveled) to places which were unfamiliar to him.  

Hebrews 11:8-10  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  (9)  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:  (10)  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

We are travelers too.  Our task is to abide here, (Glorify God in all we do,) refrain from the strangers and their gods by which we are compassed.  Abraham walked in Faith, just as we are to walk in Faith.

John 14:1-2  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Jesus, from the grave has gone to Heaven before us.  He went to prepare a place for us.  Our home is with Him, in Heaven.

            If you have not secured a place in Heaven, now is the time to do it.  Jesus tells us in John 3:16:

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God loves “each and every” person, regardless of how good or evil we are.  He has never loved the sin we subscribe to, yet, He loves us each one dearly.   He wants none to reside in Hell.  He wants all to join Him in Heaven.

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God is patient and He will wait for you.  However, when “your hour comes” and you have done nothing to accept Jesus, your choice by default is Hell.  God wants to give you a personal gift, Everlasting Life.  All He asks from you is to accept His Son Jesus.  Accept Him by your repentance, (by changing your life,) by looking away from your former life with the world.

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Confess your belief that God has raised Jesus from the grave.  By that confession, God will give you that Gift of Eternal Life.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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