By Apostle Alex Adusei Agyemang 1 Corinthians15:19KJV If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable Why were the earlier disciples the way they were? Why did they live as foreigners and strangers in their world? They referred to themselves as sojourners, as pilgrims and weren’t so attached to the world. They weren’t at home in this world Peter said, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges [those dishonorable desires] that wage war against the soul……1 Peter 2:11 AMP” He actually calls our present time in this world as a time of sojourning “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear……1 Peter 1:17KJV” Have you come to understand as a Christian that your present time in this world is a time of sojourning, whether ninety or hundred years? It’s a time of foreign residence, a time of dwelling in a strange land. It is because of this understanding that the earlier Christians lived the way they did. How have you been living in the present world? What drives you in life? Are they the things of this world? As far as your primary goals in life are centered on the things of this life, you have not really understood Christianity. You haven’t really understood why Jesus died and you have not understood the statement “I am a Christian” Paul says, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” When Paul was journeying through storms and winter conditions, when he was starving as he crossed geographical borders to preach the Gospel, when the congregants of the church in Jerusalem were scattered around the world, preaching the Gospel, when they were going through all this as the unbelieving gentiles and Jews were busying themselves about this life, it is because they had come to understand what Jesus meant when He said “ye are not of this world”. They understood that this world is not our home but we have been made sojourners and if foreign residence, we ought to focus primarily on that for which we have been left here. This life is the least of the Christian hope; the Christian hope is the Kingdom soon to be established on the earth. The focus is not primarily on this age but the age soon to come. This should be your meat and satisfaction in life. The Kingdom work should be what drives you in life. Paul said, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth…..Colossians 3:1-2KJV” Paul says, live from above whilst on this present earth. The Christian is the one who is supposed to live from above whilst on earth. Any Christian who lives on earth with the mindset of this world is not living the true Christian life. Your goals for life should be centered on the Kingdom, which becomes your focal point in life. Therefore, your focus should not be this life but the age to come. God bless you! Confession I believe with my heart that Jesus is the very Son of God that He came to die for me and was raised up by God the Father. I confess Him as the Lord of my life from this day forward. Hallelujah! I am born again Weekly Prayer Pray and intercede for unsaved souls in your family, immediate and far Scriptural reference: 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4, Acts 16:31
