Life on earth, just passing through

I am currently on vacation in Portugal, secretly hoping that spring will have arrived when we get back home. Traveling, and even planning a vacation, can help us through the long winter months.

Traveling often helps to put things in a proper perspective as well. In a sense, we are all pilgrims in this world, just passing through. The Bible says: For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come (Hebrews 13:14).

Not our permanent home

This world is not our permanent home. So, how come we act as if it is? We want to control everything that is happening, but we can't. We get restless when things are shaken, we feel uneasy when things change, which is understandable, of course.

We want stability, security, and peace. When the world is in turmoil, we feel it in our hearts, we feel it in our souls. It is like bleeding inside. We are hurting because we cannot stop the world from turning... and turning.

Living like a pilgrim

If we could only learn to live like a pilgrim. I don't mean being homeless or without possessions; but being able to move on, despite circumstances. Being able to look forward with the expectation that something good must be on the horizon.

We can learn a lesson from Abraham. By faith, he made his home in the promised land, yet he lived like a stranger in a foreign country. Hebrews 11:10 says: He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

We should take care of this world, it is our assignment to subdue and cultivate the earth and to evenly divide her resources. But we should also look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where every tear will be wiped away, where there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:1-4).

Do you find it hard to get your focus right while passing through?

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Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

[Psalm 84:5]

➤For more on my travels, read my book 'No other gods'.