Pilgrim, Stranger, Visitor

So we see a pilgrim, a stranger, a sojourner, and an ambassador. All of these roles in life have to do with a relationship of being temporary. Being temporary, not quite belonging. And in fact, in Jerusalem and in Judea, they do construct, and among the Jews, they construct a sukkah. And a sukkah was like a temporary dwelling to picture that they were supposed to be like strangers, that they were strangers when they came out of Egypt. And there's a way that they describe the Israelites, built these for the Feast of Tabernacles. I want to share with you what they do. To eat and sleep, for instance, in these particular sukkahs. It is also, if it's comfortable enough, they can stay in there, sleep in there. To build it, you have to have like three-foot walls on three sides, made of solid material. But the top always had to be of organic material, such as you could see through. And then the roof, it was constructed on the ground, on a porch, or on a deck. And if it rains or is in clement, the family doesn't have to stay out there. But most Jews will not eat or drink anything outside of the sukkah. Some will only eat fruit or drink juice, if they have to, outside. Some restaurants even have their own little sukkahs built out there during this particular time. Thank you very much.

That gives you the information I just read to you. What you will learn from this sermon. You'll learn the meaning of pilgrim, stranger, sojourner, and ambassador. And while pilgrim and sojourner are similar, stranger is not. And then ambassador is not, but they all have to do with being temporary. You'll also learn why we are in those particular roles, why God assigns that to us. And you'll also learn of what the future holds for us.

So take a look at a few scriptures to talk about temporary abodes. Leviticus 23, I'll read it to you. I know you're in the dark. I hope you won't stay in the dark as far as me speaking to you. But I will give you the scriptures and I will also read them to you so you don't have to try to strain your eyes.

But Leviticus 23, verse 41, we read. Leviticus 23, 41, And you shall keep it a feast to the Lord seven days, talking about the feast of tabernacles. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths seven days. All that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths. That your generation may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.

They were living in tents, temporary dwelling places to picture they were. He said, I brought them out of the land of Egypt during that time that they may remember that I am the Lord your God. So it was something to do and help them remember their origins. Leviticus 23, verse 9, they're also here called strangers. There's Israelites. Leviticus, Exodus, sorry, 23 and verse 9. They're termed strangers. So we see that term applied to God's people in the Old Testament as he applies it in the New Testament as well.

Exodus 23, verse 9, you shall not oppress a stranger. God has lots of rules and regulations. Deuteronomy 23, 24, 25, 26 have a number of areas in there to talk about what you can and cannot do to a stranger. You can't persecute them. You can't prosecute. You can't oppress them. You're supposed to leave the corners of your field. You're supposed to treat the stranger nicely.

Notice what he says, though, in verse 9 of Exodus 23, you shall also not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger. You know what it was like seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt. So the Israelites were strangers. They knew they were only temporary in that particular time. As we know, we're also only temporary. Hebrews 11, verse 13, we heard about Abraham already, but Hebrews 11, verse 13, we read this. Hebrews 11, verse 13, these all died in faith, not having received the promises, speaking about all these heroes.

He said, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. So I'm going to go through and explain to you about what each one of these means, try to give you a little bit of a difference of the meaning, and so we can understand how God expects of us now in this world. Ephesians 6, verse 20, the Apostle Paul spoke about being an ambassador.

Ephesians 6, verse 20, here's what he wrote. He said, for which I am an ambassador, talking about being in bonds, for which I am an ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. I'm an ambassador, but I'm in bondage. He was in bondage at that time in jail, but yet an ambassador is one who represents another country, represents another leader. Why does God describe his people as pilgrim strangers, sojourners, and ambassadors?

Let's take a look at a pilgrim first. Now, when we think about pilgrims, you want to think about someone who's living in a land, or living away from one's own land and away from one's own people. Some of our students go on projects. We have several of them over in Thailand now.

And they are, Lacey Hildjian, for one, is over there, and Kathleen Kelly, from up in the North for ABC students, formerly Michael Slocum, and a number of others are over there. And they are living in a different land, right? Living away from their people. We're not talking about the Mayflower ones who came to America. 1 Peter 2, verse 9. 1 Peter 2, verses 9 to 11. We read this about being a pilgrim. 1 Peter 2 and verse 9. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of him that has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

You're a chosen generation. You're a special people. And verse 10, he says, Wherein in time past you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. So now we know he's not just talking about Old Testament. He's talking about Christians, too. But you have not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Verse 11. Dearly, beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstained from fleshly lusts which war against your soul. Don't go along with the crowd. You're in the world, but don't be of it. We'll see that later on. In chapter 1, verse 1, the word strangers comes from the same Greek word that means pilgrims.

Hebrews 11 and verse 13. Hebrews 11 and verse 13. Did I already read that one? Let's go back to Hebrews 11.

Verse 13, yes. He talked about these are 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. Pilgrims. Only temporarily they are living away from your own land.

Those are the only three places found in the Bible where he refers to us as pilgrims. Are you a pilgrim? Are you here permanently? Are you in this world and off this world? Are you just in the world? Big difference. What about a stranger?

Stranger. It was an alien, a foreign or a person, from a foreign land abiding in another country, or just passing through. Stranger. Stranger. Deuteronomy 23 to 26, I mentioned that. Various rules and regulations and laws dealing with how you treat strangers. Remember, they were supposed to leave the corners of their fields? So if you were a stranger coming through the area of Palestine, of Israel, you knew you were hungry. You could go to the corner of the field and be able to take some of the fruit or the grain or the vegetation that was there because that was allowed. That was set apart for them. Other rules and regulations. You're not supposed to oppress them. You're not supposed to do this to them. Jesus Christ referred to himself as a stranger. Matthew 25, verses 35 to 44. You'll notice he referred to himself as a stranger because when Jesus Christ walked this earth, he wasn't a part and parcel of it either. Matthew 25, verse 35.

Jesus Christ said, breaking into a thought. Remember when he comes back, he's going to divide the sheep from the goats? He said, and what's the difference? He said, verse 35, I was hungry and you gave me food to the good ones, to the sheep, to the ones on the right side. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger. I was just passing through and you took me in, naked, and you clothed me and sick. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then shall the righteous answer and say, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you and thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in or naked and clothe you? When did we do all this for you? And verse 40, the king shall answer and say to them, Verily I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of these, the least of my brethren, you have done it to me. Because we also are strangers in this world. We're not completely here. We have a loyalty that belongs to somewhere else. Ephesians 2, verse 12. He likens the Gentiles to strangers who had to be brought into the community of Israel. But Ephesians 2 and verse 12, he says this, But that in times past you were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenant of promise. You were alien. You were foreign to that. That's the meaning of the word. Then going down to verse 19, he says, Now therefore you are no more strangers, not strangers to God, not strangers to God's church, not strangers to God's way, and foreigners, but also fellow citizens with the saints of the household of God. You're no longer foreign to the church, but you should be foreign and strange to this world. We'll see that as we go on. That was a stranger in 3 John 5. Gaius is encouraged to house strangers when they came through. So when they came through the area, Gaius was encouraged by the Apostle John to house strangers. Sojourner. Sojourner and pilgrim are very similar. Sojourner or pilgrim, very similar. Citizenship and loyalty belong to another country. So they know where they belong. They know where their loyalty has to be. But they're living in another country, foreign country, for a period of time. There was a quote that I have that I could share with you about sojourners.

It was a note from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary. He says, a person whose citizenship and loyalty belong to a different country. The sojourner belonged to another nation, but unlike the foreigner, he came to live or sojourn for a period of time, away from his home country. Perhaps taking on obligations and enjoying some privileges in the new land. So sojourner could stay for a while. Stranger might be passing through for a while. Pilgrim might stay for a while. But he wasn't originally from that area. Or sojourner says, hey, I'm going back to my homeland where pilgrims might not return, but that's not their homeland originally.

And we see in Leviticus 25, verses 23 and 35, that again, sojourners are mentioned here. In this chapter talking about the Holy Days, Leviticus chapter 23, or 20, sorry, 25, verses 23. It isn't the chapter talking about it, but it is one that we use regarding the sabbatical year. But in Leviticus 25 and verse 23, we read this, The land shall not be sold forever, for the land is mine, and you are strangers and sojourners with me.

So God said, you're not here permanently, you're just strangers and sojourners. Verse 35, He says, and if your brother be waxed poor and fallen to decay with you, then you shall relieve him. Yes, though you be a stranger or a sojourner, though he be a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.

So sometimes strangers and sojourners stayed in that same area, stayed with the Israelites, but that they were not considered part of that land, just like we can't be, as Christians, considered part of this whole society, be like this whole society. Psalm 39, verse 12, David acknowledged that he was a sojourner. Psalm 39 and verse 12. Psalm 39 and verse 12, He says, Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry.

Hold not your peace if my tears, for I am a stranger with you. I'm a stranger with you and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. True Christians, godly people, cannot sink their roots deeply into this society, because this society and this world is not God's. God wants a Christian to do his or her very best to make wherever they are better, but He knows that they can't sink their roots too deeply. 1 Chronicles 29, 15.

Again, I'm not going to go there. You can write it down. 1 Chronicles 29, 15. David states he was a sojourner here on earth. So a sojourner, coming and staying for a while, but maybe not staying forever. And then finally, we have the three of those are fairly similar. There's Pilgrim, the stranger, sojourner, fairly similar. Coming from another country, owing their allegiance to that country, staying for a little while or just passing through, but not able to set down roots. But Ambassador was different. Ambassador was an official representative or a herald or a messenger of a leader or a governmental official. He kind of paved the way for him, sort of like our ambassadors today are, official representatives of their country.

They live in that country. They try to follow the rules of that country as long as they don't conflict with the rules of their country. And they're also to be examples of what their country is really like. So you read in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 20, and by the way, Ambassador was always a noble term. 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 20. 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 20. I remember when college was opened in Bricketwood, England, and Dr. Benjamin Ray, that's a name out of the past, who was of Spanish, over the Spanish work at one time, but then became the deputy chancellor, whatever he was, over in England, kind of the dean of the faculty.

He, or principals, they called him. He applied for ambassador to be accepted in England, and they said, Ambassador College, what do you train ambassadors? And then Dr. Ray's comment was, don't you think we need some? Don't you think we need some trained ambassadors? And Ambassador College has kept that same name, and Ambassador Bible Center kept that name alive, but we realize we are more of college than we are a center, and when we have international students applying to come, and they list on there they're going to Ambassador Bible Center, the immigration official just throws it out.

Doesn't even look at it, because it doesn't sound like it's a school. Sounds like he might be coming to work there, or do something else there. So, we were told the best way to be is be a college, and so we'll change the name. We're not going to be putting a lot of things, a lot of money into it.

We're not trying to become a four-year accredited school or anything else. But we do teach the Bible. We are a Bible college. We are like a college in a collegiate atmosphere, so the name has been changed officially to Ambassador Bible College. But the world does need ambassadors. I've already read to you Ephesians 6.20, being an ambassador for Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians, chapter 5 and verse 20. Now, then, we, not just Paul, we are ambassadors for Christ.

As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead be reconciled to God. Let your relationship be good with God, keep it good with God, renew it, and repent and renew it as you need to. But be an ambassador of His, a herald, one who sets an example.

And here we are in Oceanside, California, area. And what will they take from being with us? What will they take from us? What will they learn from us? What will they see from us? We are to be examples. Jeremiah 49, 14. I'm not going to go there. We see that he talks about being more like a messenger, an ambassador. He calls an ambassador like a messenger. And then in 1 Peter 2 and verse 12, our examples will make a difference.

You know, as an ambassador of another country, we want them to see you. You are that other country. As we represent the kingdom of God, what will people see here of the kingdom of God? By seeing you. By our behavior. By how we treat others. We've heard about that already. Are you kind and loving and caring? Will people say, well, there's something different about those people. I don't know what it is.

Well, they see that in you. 1 Peter 2, 12 talks about one day that example may pay off. 1 Peter 2, verse 12. Let's look at it. In the same area where he was talking about us being examples and pilgrims, 1 Peter 2, 12, he said, Having your conduct honest among the Gentiles. Here's an honest man. You could trust him. You could trust her. She's an honest woman. That whereas they speak against you as evil, too.

By the end, they don't eat pork. They come here. They tell me they can't eat pork. They won't work on the Sabbath. They speak against you as evil doers. They may see your good by your good works, which they shall behold.

They will notice there's something different about what you do and how you live and how you are. They'll see that. They'll notice that. And when will they notice it?

That they may see your good works, which they shall behold. Glorify God, because whom are we representing as pilgrims, strangers, sojourners, and ambassadors? We're representing God our Father in heaven. They will glorify God. In the day of visitation, you can look at it. Look it up in different commentaries, different translations. A time when they are brought close to God, they'll say, didn't I remember somebody who did these very things you're teaching me now? Didn't I know somebody down the street?

Didn't I know one of my neighbors who did that every week? They get dressed up and they leave on Saturday, and they're not around. They don't make any ruckus. They don't mow their lawn on Saturday. They don't have garage sales. Don't I know those people? Yes, they do, because they were representing Jesus Christ and God the Father. So, for the present, how are we? We see that we're to be strangers. We're to be pilgrims, strangers, sojourners, and ambassadors. For the present, what do we do? We look for a better world. We look for a better world.

John 18, verse 36, Jesus Christ, when he was apprehended, his disciples had their one sword or whatever it was with him. And Jesus Christ said, no, don't try to fight. John 18, verse 36, he said, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight? That I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now my kingdom is not here. Pilgrims, strangers, sojourners, and ambassadors, no. This isn't in God's world.

Not yet. But they do look for one. They seek one. They know there's a better world coming. They're in this world, but not of it. And, by the way, beware of the creeping, crawling existence of secularism, progressivism. It's in all the universities. The major, many professors and associate professors and instructors in universities are pushing this secularism. What do we look to, whatever the greatest minds tell us today? Is there any eternal truth? No. Truth is what's true today. What's true today may not be true tomorrow. Sabbath might be Sabbath this week.

There might not be Sabbath next week. Lying might be okay now, or not to do, but might be okay tomorrow. And what they want you to do is look to what the greatest minds would tell you to do. I'm sorry. I look to what the greatest mind has already told me what to do. That's found in my Bible. God's Word is truth, and truth has always been truth, and truth will always be truth. God made it so, and He brings it to pass. So you're in the world, John 17, verses 15 and 16, in this prayer of Jesus Christ, He said, I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil.

And in verse 16, they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. And yet He sent His disciples to go into the world, go preach the gospel, go on, set an example, be lights. But He said, but don't be like it. That's another thing we have to learn, a lesson for this time. And thirdly, for the present, we seek the wonderful world tomorrow. We have a promise of a better world, and we want to fulfill that promise. And we're here at the Feast of Tabernacles, picturing that time.

Matthew 5, verse 5, as was said, God's kingdom is coming to this earth. It's not some ethereal thing, oh, the kingdom of God is within you, or the kingdom of God is up there somehow. Or some people say, well, I'm in the kingdom today. I'm having such a good time, I'm in the kingdom. Well, I'm not in the kingdom today, I'm not very good. Now, I am in the kingdom. Some religions believe heaven and hell that way. I'm in heaven today, I'm in hell tomorrow, I was in heaven today, yesterday, or whatever. God's kingdom is coming. It's real. It's not something ethereal. But in Matthew, chapter 5, and verse 5, in the Beatitudes, notice, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

God's kingdom is coming here. And God wants you and me to be a part of it. God wants you and me to have a part in that wonderful kingdom of God. So that's for the present. What are we doing? We're hoping for it. We're looking for it. We're picturing it. What lessons can we learn from being temporary? What lessons can we learn? Well, you know, when you're living temporarily, you know that this life is a temporary one. This isn't the end all.

There's an eternal life coming. The Apostle Paul contrasted the two. He said, Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Flesh and blood can't inherit it. You must be changed. This mortal must put on immortality. You have to be changed. This corruptible must become incorruptible. This flesh must become spirit. So that's a lesson we can learn as we are picturing being pilgrims, strangers, sojourners, and ambassadors. Another lesson, or temporarily, dwelling. Now, I don't care where you're staying.

I bet you have something that isn't quite the same as old home. That might be a nice place you're staying. Things aren't in the same place. I wish I had my closet, or I wish I had this, or I wish I had that. Something's not the same. My bed? Oh, I love my bed. Or my easy chair? There's a chair here, but it doesn't sit like my easy chair. God wants us to learn. He wants us to learn by being temporary, wherever we're dwelling. This world is not the end all. Just like he wanted the Israelites to learn by dwelling in booths.

That wasn't where God had them, had in store for them. He had something much greater and much better in store for them. And you can look at several of the scriptures, but Revelation 11, verse 15, he talks about the kingdom of God coming when the announcement is made. Let's look at Revelation 11, 15. Revelation 11, verse 15, we read, The seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.

And what is God going to do to those kingdoms? He's going to break them in pieces and absorb them into the kingdom of God. When he initially starts, he's going to have some resistance, but after that resistance is broken down, they're going to become a part of the kingdom of God. So what do we learn? Temporary dwelling. We're only here temporarily. We're here dwelling temporarily to picture how temporary this world needs to be for us, because there's a better world coming. Lights and examples. Lights and examples. How many people will never see you again here in this area?

How many people may not even be working in that restaurant where you go, or whatever place you have some interaction with, that motel clerk, may never see you again. Will they see something different about you? Is it that you have a little ponytail hanging out, that they can grab a whole thing and say, Well, I know it. So we take the eyes a little bit. Funny dresses. Funny looks weird. Now I know he's different. They know you're different by the way you are, by the character of your behavior, your manner, your way.

Are you light? Jesus Christ said, You're the lights of the world. Matthew 5, 13, 16. How brightly is our light shining? Remember, we represent Jesus Christ and God the Father by our actions. Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all to the glory of God. What about our example? Are we shining? Daniel 12, 3. By your example, are you turning people to God or turning them away?

Daniel 12 and 3. Well, that's the way a Christian is. I don't want to be that way. Daniel 12 and 3. I think Mr. Weber made a very nice statement. Our doors are open and our hearts are open to you. That's not the way we feel.

Daniel 12 and 3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. Are our examples helping turn people to righteousness? I think in one survey I did many years ago, about 50% of my church came to the church because they knew somebody in the church. Whether it was a relative or a friend or just a co-worker.

I think it was over 50%. We're in the church because of somebody else's influence. How's our influence? How brightly is our light shining? As an ambassador, as a pilgrim, as a stranger, as a sojourner. You're not representing yourself. You're representing another country, too. Our future. What does our future hold for us? We need to be seeking the kingdom of God. Matthew 6 and verse 33.

Famous scripture. Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness, because you're not going to be in His kingdom if you don't have His righteousness, too. Matthew 6, 33. But seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, not our own, His. And all these things shall be added to you. Is that your goal? Is that what keeps you going? Keeps you moving. When I hear people who leave the church and walk away and not just walk away from the church and I'm using church in the broader church of God sense.

But those who teach God's word and teach the truth, those who walk away from the truth and cash it all in for nothing go their own way. I want to do my own thing. I think about them and I think, what is their life like? What would life be like to get up every day and what do you try to do? I want to just have as much fun as I can.

What do you want to do? I want to be as best I can. What do you want to do? I want to have as much power as I can. Why? What do you live for? God's kingdom is coming. He wants you to be a part of it. He wants you to help turn many to righteousness. He wants you to have a part in blessing people, healing people, encouraging people, helping people. Think of when you had untold resources to use, to help people. We visited a young lady, young woman, young compared to me. I'm 73. She was young, 50s. She's dying. If she's not healed, she will die.

What I would have given to be able to just say, be healed. I prayed for her and asked God to do it, and I hope that He will, and I pray that He will. But what a blessing in the kingdom of God to have the power to heal, just like that if need be. God's going to give it to you and me. We'll see that talk on the last day of this feast. You'll hear about that more. But are you seeking God's kingdom for our future? Hebrews 11, verses 13 and 14, and I know I read this, but let me read it again. Hebrews 11, verses 13 and 14. These all died in faith, talking about these heroes, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. No, they didn't receive them, but they still saw them. They saw them coming. They're not here yet, and were persuaded of them. Are we persuaded that God's kingdom is coming? Are we persuaded that there's coming a day of reckoning for this world? Are we persuaded that God is going to bring this world to its knees so that it can come to worship him ultimately? And were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. We're only here temporarily, but we are representing another country. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Are you seeking another country? Are you seeking a country that will put an end to all the craziness that's going on in the Middle East? I'm from Syria. My parents were born. My dad was born in Syria. My mom's dad was born in Syria. I have relatives over there that I haven't a clue who they are.

Whether they're alive or not, they were all Christian. I don't know what's happening to them.

But all I know is there's a crazed group out there that's running around killing people unless they convert to their faith. Or pay them a huge sum, which they probably can't afford to pay anyway to leave them alone for protection. And who's going to solve it? Who's going to solve the world's problems? Who's going to solve the problems of China and Vietnam? Who's going to solve the problems of China and Hong Kong or North and South Korea? Or the problems of sickness and disease with Ebola, going to wipe out some countries if it's not controlled in Western Africa? Who's going to solve that? Who's going to take your God and my God? Do you seek a kingdom? Do you seek a better world? 1 Corinthians 2.9 tells us, "'I has not seen nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.'" God is preparing a fantastic kingdom that though we're here, and we try to picture it, and we try to live in a way that we have a little extra second tithe, we can buy something a little nicer for dinner occasionally, we can take somebody out, we can buy somebody a little gift or show them some kindness. That's nice! That's great! But what God has in store is so much better than the greatest moment in your life. "'I has not seen nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.'" But God's Spirit helps us to be able to see it, helps us to be able to understand better, but God has such a fantastic world ahead, you won't want to miss it. This one I love, Hebrews 11 verses 8 to 10. Same chapter, Abraham and Sarah. "'By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should go out to receive for inheritance, he obeyed and he went out, not knowing where he went. But he listened to God and he knew God and he did what God asked him to do. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise.'" You know, that wasn't even the final end of everything because God has a kingdom to come, not just a physical earth. He sojourned as in a strange country, "'dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.'" Verse 10, why did he do all that? Why did he leave his country that he was brought up in? Why did he go out at 75 years of age, pack up all his herds and his flock and his family, his wife and his handmaids and servants and all? Why did he do all that? He believed God. And verse 10, "'For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.'" Brethren, our future is a beautiful one. Because the kingdom we look to is not man's made, it's not man's best effort, it's God's effort. And his effort is always the best.

Heavenly, one picture of New Jerusalem, a perfect square. Coming down, the city that Abraham said he looked to as emblematic and picturesque of the coming kingdom of God and beyond. That's the city he looked to. That was his future. Because he realized he was only a stranger and a pilgrim and a sojourner on this earth. And Abraham was a pretty great ambassador too, wasn't he? Because he was called a friend of God, as we heard. So in conclusion, have a wonderful feast experience. And always, always remember for now that you are pilgrims, strangers, sojourners, and ambassadors. For God the Father and for Jesus Christ and for the coming kingdom of God.

A pilgrim, stranger, a sojourner, and ambassador. That's what you and I are. And one day, we'll be full citizens in the wonderful kingdom of God.