Young Adults' Group

Strangers And Pilgrims

by Pastor Mark
June 10, 2016

The perspective of faith concerning life on this earth

Through our study of the Heroes of faith, we appreciate the way in which they would apply their faith as to how they saw themselves and their life on this earth. The author of Hebrews made this important statement concerning their faith…

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Heb 11:13) They saw themselves as strangers and pilgrims. What does it really mean to be strangers and pilgrims?

Seeing ourselves as strangers and pilgrims

The Greek word for “strangers” is “xenos” which means “foreigner, alien”. We are meant to be foreigners …aliens on this earth. We should see the world that we live in as a foreign land for our resident home is not in this world.

The Greek word for pilgrims is “parepidemos” which is made up of two words…“para” which means “alongside” and “epidemos” which means “sojourning”. This is a reference to believers who are sojourning on this earth and walking alongside the people of the earth but are only passing through.

An idiomatic phrase

The phrase “strangers and pilgrims” go together. The word “and” in Greek is “kai” which is used ascensively, which is better translated as “even”. There is an intensifying of thought…that we should see ourselves not only as foreigners but even as sojourners…pilgrims passing through this earth.

The phrase is seen as an idiomatic phrase. In English, we have idiomatic phrases such as “bread and butter.” They are words that are placed and understood together.

The Apostle Peter also used a similar phrase. He wrote, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,” (1 Peter 2:11)

Peter used a slightly different word instead of “xenos”. He used the Greek word “paroikos” which is made up of two words …“para” and “oikos” which means “house”. Literally, it means someone beside the house…a temporary dweller staying with the household. This was Peter’s perspective of faith to his readers that they should see themselves as temporary dwellers on this earth. Whether as ‘xenos” or “paroikos”, they should see ultimately see themselves as “parepidemos”… as pilgrims. Let us seek to have this perspective of faith.

Application of this perspective of faith in life

If we truly see ourselves as pilgrims, then we would apply our faith to intensely seek our heavenly homeland.  (Heb 11:14) Let us set our mind to continually seek this homeland above. If we are pilgrims, then we should refrain in a continuous way from the fleshly lust of this earth. (1 Peter 2:11) Let us seek to conduct ourselves in a good manner.

Let us be challenged to be strangers and pilgrims on this earth, looking forward to our heavenly homeland and at the same time, to conduct ourselves well in our life on earth.

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