Are You An Alien, Pt 3 - No. 30

1 Peter 2:11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” 

We continue again today looking at the characteristics of aliens. First of all, let’s look at the dictionary meaning of ‘alien.’ It means ‘owing political allegiance to another country, derived from another place, not one’s own, strange.’ Remember, this is who we are on this earth.

9. Aliens look for another city.

Hebrews 11:10, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Hebrews 11:16, “But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

Aliens have their sights on another world – their heavenly city.

My husband and I have recently returned from ministering in Malaysia and Singapore and also New Zealand and Australia. Because we are New Zealanders by birth, each time we touch down in Auckland, we exclaim, "We're home!" We lived in Australia for ten years and still have family living there, and so when we land in Brisbane, Queensland, we declare, "We're home!"

Now our earthly home is in Tennessee, USA, and where most of our children and grandchildren are living, so of course we are glad to be back home again! We feel we have three homes on this earth, but none of them are our real homes. Our true home is the heavenly city.

Where are our sights? Are we “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ”? (Titus 2:13) 

10. Aliens believe in miracles.

Hebrews 11:11-12, “Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” Red also verses 29-30. 

11. Aliens know that the greatest promises are for the next life.

Hebrews 11:13, “…Not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them….” Read also verses 35 – 40. 

The Living Bible says it clearly, “These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agree that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here.”

Aliens are more concerned about the eternal promises than promises in this life. They know that this life is only a vapor that will soon disappear, but the eternal kingdom is forever and ever. They put their hope in this kingdom. 

12. Aliens keep believing even when they see no visible answer.

Hebrews 11:13, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises… were persuaded of them, and embraced them…” 

How often have you prayed and prayed and yet not received the answer? Maybe you have prayed for a loved one to be healed and instead they passed away. You felt God let you down. Dear one, the outcome of your prayers is not your responsibility. God determines what happens. He knows what is best.  Our responsibility is to walk in faith. We must exercise faith. We continue in faith even when we don’t see any change. We continue in faith even if the person dies! We never give up believing!

Our faith goes beyond this life. 

I am always challenged by the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were cast into the fiery furnace because they would not bow down to the king. They would give their allegiance to no other than the King of kings. Listen to their confession before the king in Daniel 3:16-17, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burring fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. BUT IF NOT, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

These men exercised faith. They believed God would deliver them. But their trust was not in faith itself, but in God. They were ready to be burned in the fire if God did not deliver them. Their trust was totally in God, no matter what the outcome.

Oh that our faith would mature to the place where our faith and trust in God is so complete that our eyes are upon the Deliverer even more than the deliverance!

We will discuss the last four points about being an alien next week.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Father God, help me to trust you completely. Help me to trust you, rather than the outcome. Help me to embrace the promises, even when I don’t see them fulfilled in this life. Amen.”

QUOTE: