So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household… Eph. 2:19 AMP
All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it]…having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Heb. 11:13 AMP
Children of God are heavenly citizens, living on this earth; yet strangers and exiles to the ways of the world – at least, that is our continuing goal. We live in the faith that we have an upward calling when it’s our time to exit, a call to go home.
So, while we are here, we lean on Jesus for the strength to live godly lives; and when we slip and fall, we go to Him immediately in confession and repentance for the cleansing of our transgressions. We don’t want to get caught up in the ways of a wayward environment:
I will judge you according to your ways, and I will repay you for all your abominations…No one will strengthen himself who lives in iniquity…when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it. Ezek. 7:8 & 13; 14:13. NKJV
Let’s face it, our country’s present state of chaos and moral degradation is not something we want to associate ourselves with. It is in major danger of judgment. Thank our merciful God that He loves us so much:
“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.” Ezek. 18:21, 22. NKJV
“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!” Ezek. 18:32 NKJV
God is a forgiving God, not wanting to lose a single soul. Obviously, we cannot of ourselves, keep every single statute. That’s where Christ stands in the gap for us and blankets us with His righteousness. That way, we get to go home – a promise foreshadowed by God’s promise to the repentant Israelites, to bring them back home after they were exiled to Babylon for their sinful ways:
But you, O mountains of Israel, will put out your branches and bear your fruit to My people Israel, for they will soon come [home]. Ezek. 36;8 AMP
I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Ezek. 36:11 NKJV
What God is doing, is lifting up the homeless. You can live in a physical home, but you’re still homeless if you don’t have a loving relationship with God. God offers you a home, only asking you to tell others of His restoration of your heart, to help spread the glory of God to fill His kingdom:
“…the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.” Ezek. 36:23 NKJV
So, not only must you get right with God through Christ, you must radiate that relationship outwards to beckon those who are still lost. After all, every one of us is commissioned to gather others into the kingdom, are we not? No one can come home, to know God’s love, joy, mercy and forgiveness, unless they can first see it in the eyes of His children.
Just like Israel, all God’s children get to go home:
“Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.” Ezek. 37:25 NKJV
And that home will be a heavenly one:
“…and the name of the city from that day shall be THE LORD IS THERE.” Ezek. 48:35 NKJV
God is building a house for all of us to call ‘home.’ And if you are willing, your homeless days are over…
Good night and God bless.