Living As Aliens

This morning I have moved on to a new book of the Bible to study, 1 Peter. Peter begins with a salutation.

1 Peter 1:1-2  

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

There is so much beauty in the doctrines mentioned in this salutation. We see that we are chosen, we are sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit, we are called to a life of obedience to the Lordship of Jesus, and we are sprinkled by His blood. Because of all these doctrines, we experience His grace and have peace, in the fullest measure. We could spend weeks just exploring the theology of all this. In the commentary I am using in this study, there are countless scriptures to look up, to meditate in, and to grow in.

But this morning, as we find ourselves in uncertain times, I am called to bring to bring attention to a different doctrine of scripture, if you will. If you notice, Peter begins this letter by addressing it to “those who reside as aliens.” Obviously, in its strictest context, Peter was writing to people who had scattered into five different regions. But the Bible was not just written to the specific people it names, but it is also written to all who would call on the name of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us that “these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” We know that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

If we are men (or women) of God, then the Bible speaks to us as well.

So, in the beginning of this letter, we find a lesson that we all need to lay hold of. We are aliens in this life. We are not meant to live as if this is where we belong. For those who are chosen by God unto salvation, our home is not this earth. This life is not meant to be clung to. It is meant to be lived as strangers in a strange world, who are, like soldiers in an army, simply on a mission for our King, in a foreign land.

Look at a few other scripture readings that confirm this.

Philippians 3:20

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 


Hebrews 11:13-16  

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.  And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.  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 a city for them.

Hebrews 13:14

For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. 


Hebrews 11:10  

For he [Abraham] was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

What God needs you to hear this morning, is that we can be at peace in the midst of the chaos going on around us. Along with the other difficulties of this life, we are right now living in a world where death may strike us at any moment. This virus is invisible. We cannot see it. It is difficult to fight something you cannot see. That is why camouflage is a standard issue uniform of a soldier. We have no idea when or where we might encounter this invisible enemy and we have no idea how it might inflict its effects upon is.

But what God desires we do, is to live in joyful expectation of the very worst extreme attack the invisible enemy can inflict upon us. Death. That is the worst thing that our enemies can bring upon us. But the fact for the Christian is that death is not defeat; it is victory.

Again, what does the Word of God say?

2 Timothy 1:10  

But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Death is victory to the Christian. It is the culmination of our wanderings as aliens here. Physical death to the chosen people of God is only the beginning. We must live as soldiers in a strange land, fulfilling the mission are called to and doing so, not in fear of our death, but in eager anticipation of it. For in it is the victory, because of Jesus. Because of the power of resurrection.

As I close, I want to encourage each of us on the hope of what is to come.

Revelation 21:2-4

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

We can and must live in the peace of God. Even in the presence of invisible enemies.