The Pilgrim Concept (Part 5/7)

This world is not our home. We are only pilgrims and just passing by. The article is written by Dr Peter Masters and is taken from https://metropolitantabernacle.org/articles/the-pilgrim-concept/.

‘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’ (Hebrews 11.13).

Do’s and Don’ts of the Pilgrimage

We must now consider some of the do’s and don’ts for pilgrims, that make such a difference to the journey. We shall address them directly to readers, the first being a serious warning: Be very careful not to settle. You are a pilgrim, don’t settle! We are not talking about spiritual things here, but about earthly things. Do not put down roots and become dependent on earthly things, growing to like them too much. On the contrary, if you like something too much, don’t have it, don’t do it, because it will be a snare to you.

Have we not all fallen into this trap? Something very valuable has come into our life, such as a home, or an over-treasured possession, or a recreation, or clothing, and it has meant too much to us, absorbing our fascination and attention. We have become committed and dedicated to it, which is against the whole spirit of pilgrimage.

Perhaps we recognised this. It was not an immoral, wrong or dreadful thing, but it engaged us too much, and by God’s grace, we decided to lay it aside. We reminded ourselves we were pilgrims who must be ready to move forward unimpeded, devoted to the Lord and his cause. Called to be pilgrims – passing through – we dare not settle, allowing earthly things to enfold and detain us.

Another rule for the pilgrim life is to remember that every phase of life is temporary. Are we young? Well we will not always be young. Time rolls on and we have to leave youth. The earnest pilgrim spends his youth preparing for the next phase, not clinging to the present stage. Young men have to think of marriage. In our godless age this is not seen as an obligation, but for believers it is, unless the Lord overrules. We certainly do not want to develop a flirtatious spirit, but we should have a prayerful spirit and a willing heart.

In the unsaved world, when young people are asked what they aim to do in life, they generally answer by naming something they particularly enjoy, as though enjoyment is the basis of a career choice. But saved pilgrims think more of careers that will be useful and will enable them to serve the kingdom of God, and, if possible, do a good work for all people. The worldling aims at personal pleasure, gratification and fulfilment, but the pilgrim aims at service to God and good works.

When young, the pilgrim is in training for the next phase of life, emulating Christians like Hudson Taylor, who in youth restrained his diet and denied himself many reasonable comforts in order to condition and toughen himself for pioneer missionary service in China.

A vital don’t for pilgrims of all ages is – never surrender spiritual priorities or waste time. I once knew a Christian man who had in his garden a beautiful and elaborate working model train system, carefully engineered and constructed. The engine, trucks and tracks were quite large, capable of carrying children, and the total impression stunning. But how did a Christian man justify devoting so many hours, if not years, to building a gigantic toy! Let us never waste time that belongs to the Lord.

One wonders what John Wesley would have done in this situation. We read that he would visit a house where silver vessels were on display, and would openly appropriate them for his orphanage work. Pilgrims cannot spend their time and set their hearts on earthly idols. They have a very practical approach to the material things of life.