Navigating Unfamiliar Terrain in the Christian Life Journey
Navigating Unfamiliar Terrain in the Christian Life Journey
The Christian life is often characterized as a journey through unfamiliar terrain, with believers described as strangers and pilgrims in a foreign land [7]. This concept is rooted in biblical teachings, where the Israelites' wilderness experience serves as a paradigm for the Christian's spiritual journey. In Deuteronomy, Moses recalls the Israelites' 40-year journey, where God guided them through the wilderness, providing for their needs [1].
The psalmist also expresses the sentiment of being a stranger in a foreign land, yearning for God's teachings and guidance (Psalms 119:19) [2]. This feeling of displacement is not unique to the Israelites; Christians are also considered strangers and pilgrims in the world, facing various challenges and hardships as they journey towards their heavenly home [7].
The New Testament reinforces this idea, with the apostle Peter exhorting believers to live as strangers and pilgrims, abstaining from fleshly lusts and living soberly [7]. The Christian life is marked by difficulties and persecutions, as seen in the experiences of the apostle Paul, who faced numerous challenges during his missionary journeys, including perils from robbers, his own countrymen, and natural hazards [8].
In navigating this unfamiliar terrain, Christians are encouraged to persevere and endure, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness. The book of Revelation presents the church's journey as a wilderness experience, where believers are refined and tested, but ultimately provided with refuge and escape by God [3]. The Christian's journey is not without its challenges, but it is marked by God's presence and guidance.
The concept of being a stranger and pilgrim in the world is not limited to the external challenges faced by Christians. It also encompasses a deeper sense of spiritual displacement, where believers are strangers to the world and its ways, and the world is a stranger to them [4, 5]. This spiritual estrangement is a result of the Christian's new identity in Christ, which sets them apart from the world.
In this context, the Christian life journey is characterized by a sense of tension between the believer's current state and their future hope. While they are strangers in the world, they are also citizens of heaven, with their ultimate allegiance belonging to God [7]. This tension is not a source of discomfort, but rather a reminder of their identity and purpose as Christians.
The difficulties faced by Christians in their journey are not without purpose. According to Matthew Henry, the sufferings and hardships endured by believers serve to mortify their fleshly desires and to glorify God [6]. The Christian's response to these challenges is crucial, as they are called to live soberly, reverently, and in obedience to God's will.
Sources
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 29:5 (BBE) — For forty years I have been your guide through the waste land: your clothing has not become old on your backs, or your shoes on your feet.”
- Psalms “Psalms 119:19 (BBE) — I am living in a strange land: do not let your teachings be kept secret from me.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 12:6: 12:6 Like the people of Israel who were spiritually refined in the wilderness (see Hos 2:14-15; Acts 7:38-45) and in exile (see Isa 5:13; Ezek 12:1-3), the Christian church must face its own wilderness. Revelation presents messages of endurance and perseverance in the face of trouble and shows that God provides places of refuge and avenues of escape for his people (cp. 1 Cor 10:13). 1,260 days: See study note on Rev 11:2-3.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:17: I am a stranger in the earth,.... As all his fathers were, and all the saints are; not to divine and spiritual things; to God, and communion with him; to Christ, and the knowledge of him; to the Spirit, and his operations in their hearts; to their own hearts, and the plague of them; to the Gospel, and its truths; nor to the people of God, and fellowship with them: but to the world, among whom they are, not being known, valued, and respected by them; and they also behaving as strangers to the world, having no fellowship with them in their sinful works; as also not be”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 44:7: In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers,.... Unregenerate men, who are in a state of alienation and estrangement to divine and spiritual things: strangers to God; to the true knowledge of him in Christ; to the fear and love of God; to the true grace of God in conversion; and to communion with him: strangers to Christ, to his person and offices; to the way of peace, life, and salvation by him; to his righteousness; to faith in him, love of him, and fellowship with him: strangers to the Spirit; to his person, to regeneration and sanctification by him; to th”
- 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 4:12: The frequent repetition of counsel and comfort to Christians, considered as sufferers, in every chapter of this epistle, shows that the greatest danger these new converts were in arose from the persecutions to which their embracing Christianity exposed them. The good behaviour of Christians under sufferings is the most difficult part of their duty, but yet necessary both for the honour of Christ and their own comfort; and therefore the apostle, having extorted them in the former part of this chapter to the great duty of mortification, comes here to direct them in”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 2:11: As heretofore he exhorted them to walk worthily of their calling, in contradistinction to their own former walk, so now he exhorts them to glorify God before unbelievers. Dearly beloved--He gains their attention to his exhortation by assuring them of his love. strangers and pilgrims-- (Pe1 1:17). Sojourners, literally, settlers having a house in a city without being citizens in respect to the rights of citizenship; a picture of the Christian's position on earth; and pilgrims, staying for a time in a foreign land. FLACIUS thus analyzes the exhortat”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 11:25: In journeying often,.... Through several countries and kingdoms to preach the Gospel, as he did from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum: in perils of waters; by the floods being out, which made it very troublesome and dangerous travelling, especially to persons on foot, as was the case of our apostle: in perils of robbers; for though he had seldom much to lose, yet was in danger of being ill used, and of his life being taken away by such ruffians: in perils by my own countrymen; the Jews, who bore an implacable hatred to him, because of the doctrines of ”