Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Homeless Wanderers No More

The first Christians were persecuted and driven from their homeland. Thus they became pilgrims (homeless wanderers) in this world (1 Pet. 1:22). The Old Testament forefathers were called pilgrims “looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland” (Heb. 11:15). Is it even possible that we who are so settled on earth can have the attitude of a homeless wanderer?

Not easily. But there is another meaning of ‘wanderer’ we can understand. It is the wandering heart. We all struggle to resist earth’s gravitational pull toward comfort and security, to feel at home here. It seems the more we have, the harder it is to keep our wandering hearts in check: to love not the world (1 John 2:15).

In the 18th century, 22-year old Robert Robinson penned the renowned hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” with those pained words, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.” But one day we will arrive at our heavenly homeland: homeless wanderers and wandering hearts no more.

3 comments:

  1. I think the only way to keep our hearts from wandering is to offer them to the Lord every time we see they go in the wrong direction. Thankfully, He takes care of it and settle it properly. :)

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  2. you are so right. it is a moment-by-moment choice. isn't it significant that, knowing our proneness to wander, Jesus says, abide (STAY) in Me and in My word.

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  3. He knew the power of His grace, the wonderful Holy Spirit. And that only by trusting, as you say, on a moment-by-moment basis, we could do what He asks. It is a constant trusting (faith) in His grace, and therefore a constant yielding. Thank you, Greg.

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