We’re aliens and strangers in this world (1 Peter 2:11). When we turned our lives over to Jesus, we became homeless in this world and began longing for our true home with Christ (1 Corinthians 5:1-3). The closer we draw to Jesus, the more we recognize how out of place we are in this world. Our desires do not match those of society. Our actions often fly in the face of earthly logic and common sensibilities.
There is a constant sense of being different, of not fitting in here. We don’t feel at home because this world is not our home. We only find peace in the presence of Jesus because He is our home. Having our eyes awakened to spiritual reality, the physical and temporal world can never again captivate us. Indeed, we have become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In 1 John 3:1, we read that the world does not know us because they did not know Christ. How can they accept us when they have rejected our Lord? If they were not convinced of the truth by Jesus, they will not be convinced by us. To put it in stronger terms, if they rejected Him, they will reject us. We will not find a home among those who deny Christ and are blind to the truth. Those of this world will never understand us (1 Corinthians 2:15-16). The way we think, speak, and act should be completely foreign to them.
Most of us have already wasted too much of our lives living as the world does. Therefore, when we change our ways and adopt a new lifestyle, those around us will take notice (1 Peter 4:3-4). Those are our opportunities to explain to them why we live the way we do. We can explain what caused such a radical revolution in our hearts and minds. This is the moment we have the privilege of sharing the gospel with someone else.
In this world, we are aliens and strangers, exiles awaiting the time we can join Christ in our eternal home (Hebrews 11:13). When Peter wrote his first letter, he addressed it to the “temporary residents” living in various places in the world (1 Peter 1:1). God’s Word makes it clear this world is not our home. Jesus told us He was going to prepare a place for us (John 14:2). Until then, we must be patient and content to live as aliens and strangers, making the most of our time here on earth because the place we live in is in deep need of the love and light of Christ.
Jesus was not of this world. The moment we become born again, we too surrender our citizenship here. Our hopes, dreams, and desires become one with His. As beautiful as our fallen world can still seem at times, it is nothing compared to our eternal home. God will make everything new. All darkness and evil will be cast away. All that will remain is the beauty and radiance of God’s love. That is where we belong. It is where we were created to always be. For now, we are aliens and strangers. But in a little while, we will see the Father as He is (1 John 3:2), and we will finally be home.