Friend of StrangersEsimerkki

When God calls Abraham, He promises him a new land to inherit. But in that promise, Abraham must leave his homeland and live as a stranger in the land of promise. In this way, we can say that God's people are born as strangers.

Just as Abraham longed for the promised land, we long for heaven. Just as Abraham had to live as a stranger in the land of Canaan, we must live as strangers in the world. Although Abraham lived in the land of Canaan, he never became a Canaanite. Just as Abraham lived as a man of God side by side with idolatrous pagans, we are to live holy lives despite being in a fallen and sinful world. Just as the promise was eventually fulfilled and Israel received its promised land, God's promise to us will be fulfilled when God fully establishes his Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

Until then, Christians are strangers in the world with an urgent mission to invite as many as possible to the heavenly feast of the Kingdom of God.