Dear Brethren and Friends,

Welcome to the Filipino Worship Service!

With all our daily struggles we may think that problems are endless, and we become hopeless. Many people try the temporary solutions of this world resulting in having more problems than solving one. Although Christians are not immune to these troubles in life, we know these will end someday, and we have a hope of a better place, in fact the best, because of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us continue on living for and in the Lord! We shall soon see Him face to face!

A Stranger and a Pilgrim

The word, parepidemos, translated as stranger or pilgrim is used three (3) times in the New Testament. Friberg Lexicon defines it as “one who stays for a while as an alien in a place.” He is sojourning as a temporary resident. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon further defines it as, "one who comes from a foreign country into a city to reside there by the side of the natives, hence a foreigner." Figuratively, it refers to Christians who are not counting this present earth as their home (1 Pet 1:1). In the New Testament, it is with reference to believers who consider heaven as their native country and sojourns only on earth temporarily (1 Pet. 2:11).

Paul uses this word in his epistle to the Hebrews, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:13–16).

This, the apostle mentioned after recalling the faith of Abel down to Abraham and Sara. They did not live to see the Lord Jesus Christ who was still prophesied in their time but they saw his days. Since they acknowledged that they were pilgrims on the earth, unable to see the Lord born as a man, they still anticipated the days where they would see Him. The word ‘pilgrims’ is identified here with the word ‘strangers’ which means those who are estranged and excluded. Hence, they look forward to find that better place which is prepared for them that believe. This is the promise of the coming Messiah as the Word of God prophesied.

If these people in the past were so convinced of the fulfilment of the Messiah’s coming, how much more for Christians today to be most convinced because the promise of the Saviour has been fulfilled in Jesus. Calvin writes, "Though God gave to the fathers only a taste of that grace which is largely poured on us, though he showed to them at a distance only an obscure representation of Christ, who is now set forth to us clearly before our eyes, yet they were satisfied and never fell away from their faith: how much greater reason then have we at this day to persevere? If we grow faint, we are doubly inexcusable". We must therefore live as strangers and pilgrims awaiting for the sure kingdom promised to us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The word translated as pilgrim is rendered strangers in 1 Peter 1:1–2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

Peter used this word to describe those who are elected of God. This means these strangers were believers who were chosen by God the Father even before the foundation of the world. God has foreknown them and they are sanctified unto obedience and cleansing through the blood of Christ. These strangers are the Jews who were scattered. They were not in their homeland but Peter encouraged them to know that they are born-again “unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven” for them (1 Peter 1:3b–4).

So also, we, who are believers of the Lord Jesus Christ and who are here in a foreign land of Singapore, may not be in our homeland but we have a home prepared for all of us in heaven. We should be looking forward to that final home and must understand that we are but pilgrims and strangers in this place. Sooner or later, we have to leave this place, not only looking forward to return to our own country but towards the perfect place God has prepared for those whom He has elected even before the foundation of this world.

Peter further used the word to plead for a holy life while here on this temporal place that we live in. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11–12).

Let us be honest with the way we live and even if they still accuse us of evil doing because we fulfil the work of the Lord, we must continue on the work that God has commissioned us. Lord willing, those who are outside God’s kingdom will see their need of the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and be saved to glorify the Father which is heaven. As pilgrims, we are not hindered to do God’s work by the evil accusations of the world. Instead, we have to double time our effort in fulfilling the mission God has assigned to us, for we have limited time. Let us hasten the work of evangelism and missions for soon we shall leave this world.

Remember, we are just guests on this earth. Soon we are to leave this place. We will not live forever in this world. As our founding Pastor, the Rev Dr Timothy Tow, wrote in a hymn, “We’re a pilgrim band now headed for the glory land of light, we are trav’ling thro’ the wilderness of night, We’ve a home that’s far away beyond the heaven and the stars. In the New Jerusalem!” - JTGL