There are various definitions to what a sojourner is. The free dictionary (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sojourner) defines a sojourner as: To reside temporarily. The root of this word is sojourn which according to Merriam Webster means: a temporary stay. I don't know about you, but most of the time I don't feel like I really belong here. Don't get me wrong, I have a beautiful wife, wonderful kids, a supportive family and great friends. My life is blessed and I have a lot to be thankful for, yet something seems to be missing.
Do you ever feel this way? I know it is easy to feel this way when life seems to be getting the best of you, but what about when all is going "well" (whatever that means). Is there a piece of you that seems to be longing for something else or maybe better stated, somewhere else? I believe this is in all of us. We try to mask this longing with various toys and busyness to keep us distracted from this thought, yet at the end of the day we all know that we are here for only a short period of time.
C. S. Lewis once said: "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3:20 that "our citizenship is in heaven." You see, I believe that we have various struggles in this earthly life because we are only supposed to be here temporarily. We are longing to be be somewhere else whether we admit it or not. You and I are sojourners in this life just waiting to return home.
You and I are just passing through! This is not our permanent home. One day our time here will end and we will be faced with an eternity in one of two places: Heaven or Hell. This blog is designed to chat, teach, guide and encourage you on your temporary stay here. We will learn, laugh and live together sharing the ups and downs of life and hopefully help each other make the most out of every day we have been given. My role is not to save you. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. I just want to live out life to fullest and make the most of every opportunity. From one sojourner to another, I look forward to the journey. May our time here be lived to the fullest!
Until Next Time,
The Sojourner
I am trouble to hear that you take life as temporary. As we have eternal life through Christ our Lord. When one realizes that life is really eternal and so far from temporary, that person will truely be one step closer to the Kingdom of Heaven.
ReplyDeleteGod breathed my spirit into my body and until he receives that spirit back to Himself I will be content in this world. I am in no hurry to leave this life nor in a hurry to stay here. I have been given today and all my tomorrows are in his hands. So I will be content to be. The Lord spoke to Cain but Cain defied HIM. He turned a deaf ear and went on with his anger to bring about his own satisfaction. Cain saw an opportunity that must has seemed to be a grand opportunity in his eyes. God cursed Cain and made him a restless wanderer, a sojourner seperated from GOD. I wish my spirit to be content on earth as it will be in the Kingdom home as both are created by HIM.
ReplyDeleteI interpreted this post to be rooted in II Corinthians 4:8-18. When comparing that passage to what the Sojourner has written, I see this post as a modern day version of what Paul had to say about his struggles in life. I am not troubled by a temporary view of this earthly life because my soul longs for its eternal home. I do recognize that what I do in the temporary impacts my eternity, but my desire is to receive my eternal life in Christ. I am looking forward to what the Sojourner has to say.
ReplyDeleteYour comment "May our time here be lived to the fullest!" reminds me of God's words to Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply." Our heavenly Father places us in various places as He placed them in the Garden of Eden. There have been times in my life when I felt emotionally displaced. I tried to tell myself that is is safer to reserve myself and not get involved. But I was not content with that perspective. It was not fruitful, and I did not feel fulfilled. God wants me to live fully and to interact with transparency to Christ with those around me. Yes, I am a sojourner on this earth, but in order to honor God I must embrace where I am and those who are there with me. I must be fruitful and multiply!
ReplyDeleteI notice that it has been almost two months since anyone posted on this blog, and the last post was made by me. Right now my life is trying to roll me under. There is too much going on, and I don't really have time to think deeply. My brain feels shallow, because I am constantly just "keeping up." Maybe fewer clouds and a little less rain would improve my perspective. Sunshine is said to nourish the soul. If I'm going to sojourn to the fullest, a warm spring day might do a lot to get my productivity going.
ReplyDelete