We may be "pilgrims," and yet, in our pilgrimage, may visit all the cities and churches in the world and include them in our embrace; but if we are true "sojourners" we shall be "strangers" to them all; and shall be compelled, as Abraham was, to erect our own solitary altar to Jehovah in the midst of them all.

E.W. Bullinger, Great Cloud of Witnesses

Since the earliest of times, when Adam and Eve were escorted out of the Garden of Eden, GOD’s people have been sojourning in a strange land. While Cain and his were building a city to dwell in, Abraham and his were looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. While fools built greater barns to bestow their goods in this world, our Lord instructed His followers to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven". We are reminded of the old gospel song, "This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through".

This world has a "course" already plotted out on which we are expected to run. The course is one big circle going nowhere and most spend up their lives going around and around and around. Getting off of that course is the beginning of our deliverance. We have been freed from their "yoke of bondage", we need no longer serve their master.

EPHESIANS 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

The spirit, which is the prince of the power of the air, is the one who has laid this "course" down. The children of disobedience are those who obey not the clarion call of GOD. They are the ones "choked by the cares of this world". They are the ones who receive the word with joy, but endure only for a while, for when affliction or persecution comes because of the word, they are again snared. They are the ones blinded by the god of this world, because they believe not (2 CORINTHIANS 4:4).

Paul wrote that our politeuma, our citizenship is in heaven, not here. But the god of this world is reluctant to let us go. He wants us here, paying his tribute, obeying his lusts, and walking in his darkness. Therefore he invents a myriad of pleasures and pressures, which are designed to keep our minds tethered to his world. This is the battle that is consistently being waged within us. Our flesh seeks to lead us back into captivity while the words of truth implanted within us constrain us to "stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free".

It is the word of GOD that is the key that enables us to unlock the door and be released from the captivity wherein we have been bound to this world’s "course". Yeshua (Jesus) taught many of these great truths that can deliver GOD’s people from this yoke of bondage. Much of it is recorded in the teaching called "the Sermon on the Mount" at which close Matthew wrote, "…the people were astonished at His doctrine".

He opened His teaching by declaring that it’s the "poor and persecuted" who enter into the kingdom of heaven, not the rich and powerful. That it’s His disciples who are the lights of this dark world, not the religious leaders. He taught that to enter the kingdom of heaven, one’s righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, suggesting that they had not entered in.

He showed them how not just murder or adultery is sin but even anger and lustful desire and that sin originates in the heart, not in the hand. He taught them that they should "turn the other cheek", to "resist not evil" and to "love your enemies". Only those passing through this world could ever attain unto these aspirations. To have this mind one must cut himself loose from those lusts of the flesh that seek only to satisfy itself.

He taught of two rewards, one received by the hypocrites who love the praise of men and the other given by His Father in heaven. He taught of two treasures, one upon the earth, which moth and rust destroy and the other in heaven. And He taught of two masters of which no one can serve both. He explicitly taught them that they should not be anxious about being fed or clothed, for "your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things". But! Instead of being caught up with all the troubles the kingdoms of this world consumes them with, they should "seek first the kingdom of GOD".

He warned them not to cast their pearls before swine. That those who ask are given, those who seek find and unto those who knock it is opened unto them. That the gate unto destruction is wide but the gate unto life is narrow, and "few there be that find it". Then He warned them of false prophets who shall be known by their fruits.

He closed by declaring that there are indeed two roads, two ways. You can build your house upon a rock or you can build upon the sand. The rain will fall, the floods eventually will come and the winds will blow. Why one house falls while the other stands is because upon what it was built. "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." But, "every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand…and great was the fall of it" (MATTHEW 7:26- 27).

Many hear about the words of GOD but how few actually hear them. Many set in pews on Sunday morning, or tune in to the tele-evangelist, and many others sit in Bible study classes but how many actually hear the words of the living GOD? How many hear and obey that still small voice and enter into HIS rest? How many enter into HIS kingdom through the narrow gate? Our Lord tells us "few!" If you are running with the crowd, if you travel a well-worn path, you may want to reconsider your course and where it might lead.

As the nation of Israel wandered through the wilderness, looking for their "Promised Land", they "passed through" the land of the children of Esau. GOD commanded them, "Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink" (DEUTERONOMY 2:6), but "meddle not with them".

The nature of living required the Believers to have business with the Unbelievers, but they were not to become "entangled" with them. Such it is with us. We live and work amongst our neighbors, yet Scripture commands us to "meddle not" with them. Our "promised land" is elsewhere. Our world is not theirs, we are just "passing through". We may all live on one planet, but we are not all of the same world. We are not all on the same course. Ours is HIS and we must "be separate" from them.

We may have a great desire to wish they were like us, but they are not. As hard as it may be to accept they may never be, for they are of this world. Entanglements with them do not enlighten them, it only darkens us. As Paul warned the Corinthians, "Be not deceived: evil communications [intercourse] corrupt good manners [character]".

Lot, Abraham’s nephew, sat at the gate of Sodom which means he was a notable citizen, perhaps even a city councilman. He immersed himself in their affairs so as to enlighten them, but the reality was that it nearly cost him his life. Their unbridled lusts exhausted him, while he failed to convert even one of them. "Not one!"

The rulers of this present world are tireless in their attempts to entangle us with the affairs of their world. Each entanglement we are overcome by, is one less opportunity for us to seek HIS kingdom. "Keep them from reaching the door!" And then, "Never allow them to enter in". And finally, "Drag them back out, whatever be the cost". This is the enemy’s anthem! This is his battle cry!

EPHESIANS 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation [conduct or behavior] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

"In times past" this was our world. Now we are only passing through. Nothing here is ours for when we die and are buried all possessions will remain here. The only thing that is truly ours is our knowledge. That is the only thing that goes with us, nothing else. Even our bodies are not our own. They are loaned to us by GOD to carry us through this world and will be discarded after they have served their purpose.

We may pay the mortgage, we may think the family car is finally ours, we may have been told that our financial future is becoming secure, but these are all lies. They are only concepts the enemy uses to keep us tethered to his world. We’ve all heard the familiar statement "You can’t take it with you". Why spend all our years amassing wealth that travels not with us beyond the grave? Better it is to first amass eternal treasures, which will survive the grave.

Yeshua taught that a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things that he possesses. One may ask then, of what does one’s life consist? Our lives consist of knowledge, that is all. Our understanding of GOD and HIS ways is the only thing that will travel with us beyond the grave. Acquiring an understanding of GOD’s ways is the only endeavor worthy of our life’s pursuit.

Our society overwhelms us with desires for more modern conveniences, financial security and a body that will grow young again. These are lies meant to entangle us in their world. There is nothing wrong with a healthy body, and being debt free is a wise pursuit but nothing should be our first pursuit except the pursuit of the Truth.

In John’s first epistle he commands to "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world". This does not mean we don’t enjoy a beautiful sunset or that it is wrong to desire a fine steak or allow ourselves the amusements this world offers.

We are passing through. We have not reached the end of our journey. Our "yellow brick road" introduces us to many new experiences and we should be of a ready heart to drink them in, always keeping as our goal the knowledge of HIS will. We are told to "seek first GOD’s kingdom" and having done that, all these other things will be added to us, not withheld from us. The caution we are to heed is that we are not to be entangled with the things that are in the world and thereby hindered from knowing Him.

GOD’s word offers life. Having obtained that, this world can then offer its amusements. John continues in his epistle, "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him". We must serve only one master. We must have only one love.

Seek ye first HIS kingdom, for it is the Truth found in that seeking that shall make you free. After one has entered into HIS rest, has peace with GOD and is free from the lusts of the flesh, then all the needs of this life fall into their proper place. Unfortunately too many strive to secure a place in this world first, thinking they will later seek HIS kingdom from the rocking chair. They end up living a life of death. They have backed away from the door, and never entered the life GOD may have intended them to know.