Pilgrims and Sojourners

Thank you very much, ladies, for that beautiful special music, and so appropriate on this day, where we've had the blessing of one of our little ones. We've all just returned from the Feast of Tabernacles. All reports and comments have been so very positive about all of the festival sites that we went to. And as we go forward after the Feast of Tabernacles, there's a great lesson that is learned by our keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles every year that I would like to discuss with us this afternoon. It is actually a profound lesson that all of mankind will learn in due time. Let's go back to Leviticus chapter 23, and this may seem like we're going to give something that may have already been covered, but very likely this has not been covered at your festival site, and yet it does relate to the Feast of Tabernacles in a very deep and meaningful way. Leviticus chapter 23 and in verse 41, "...you shall keep the feast to the Lord for seven days," it's talking about the Feast of Tabernacles, a statute forever in your generations, celebrated in the seventh month. In verse 42, notice how they were to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. "...you shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, for I am the Lord your God." So the Israelites actually dwell in booths or tabernacles or tents. We sometimes refer to this feast, the Feast of Tabernacles, as the Feast of Booths. We have a song where it's even called the Feast of Booths. And a booth is like a little hut, a little temporary abode or dwelling place. We got a better idea of the booth in Nehemiah chapter 8. These Jews had come back from Babylonian captivity, and now they had learned and kept the Feast of Trumpets in the first part of chapter 8. And then they came to understand about the Feast of Tabernacles in verse 14. They found written in the law—this is Nehemiah chapter 8 and verse 14—they found written in the law, which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the Feast of the seventh month, and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, Go out to the mountain and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees to make booths as it is written. And so the people went out and they brought and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, some of them in the courtyards, others the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the water gate, and then the open square of the gate of Ephraim. So they built these temporary dwelling places. And so the whole congregation of those who had returned from captivity made booths and sat under the booths, and since the days of Joshua, the son of Nun, until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. And so day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the book of the law of God, and they kept the feast seven days, the feast of tabernacles, the feast of booths. Booths, then, are just temporary dwelling places, and the Israelites kept the feast as God instructed them. But there's a deeper meaning to why God had them to do this. Let's discover that deeper meaning, and it's a meaning that those who keep the feast of tabernacles today must learn, and also those who keep the feast of tabernacles in the millennium, when all of mankind will be observing the feast. Let's go back to the book of Hebrews, chapter 11. There's something about these temporary dwelling places, these booths or tabernacles, that is significant for us to consider as we go through life.

In Hebrews, chapter 11 and verse 8, this is the faith chapter, and here it says, By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. I think that's somewhat like us. When God calls us to his church, we have no idea really how this is going to unfold. We just know that we're obeying what God has shown to us, and we're striving to do his will and do what is pleasing to him. We kind of go forward, too, on faith, not knowing exactly what the future holds. In verse 9, by faith he sojourned in the land of promise, he sojourned. He was there like a stranger, you might say, or like one that was just passing through. He sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents.

Well, that word tent is the same as tabernacles. In the Greek it is kinos, s-k-e-n-o-s, and it is the very same word that is translated tabernacles in John 7, feast of tabernacles. So Abraham dwelt in a booth, he dwelt in a tent, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with them of the same promise. For he waited for the city which had foundations and whose builder and maker is God. He was looking for something greater than where he was dwelling. Well, skipping on forward to verse 13, Hebrews 11 and verse 13, it says, these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. That's kind of like us, isn't it? We see something afar off. We've not received the promises yet, but we see them afar off, and we are assured of them they embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. There's something about the Feast of Tabernacles that connects with strangers and pilgrims. And so the sermon this afternoon is dwelling on the fact that we are temporary residents on this earth. We're in a temporary body. The Feast of Tabernacles points out that we are pilgrims and sojourners. We dwell in something that is temporary at this time. And Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the other righteous people of God recognized that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland, something they don't have yet. And truly, if they had called to mind that country from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, heavenly country. Actually, a spiritual country or a spiritual tabernacle. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city. And that city is a permanent, eternal dwelling place that God has in mind. And it's not just a location or place. It is the very substance which we will be. And that is eternal and spiritual in body, no longer physical and temporary. So the patriarchs confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Let's go back to Genesis 23. We'll see where Abraham recognized that fact. He was just a pilgrim and a sojourner. Genesis 23 and 4. In this chapter, you can read in the earlier verses, that Sarah died and Abraham was looking for a burial place for his wife. And he came to the sons of Heth in 3. And he told them in 4, I am a foreigner and a sojourner among you. This is not really my homeland. It wasn't. God had not really given it to him yet, even though he was abiding or dwelling in it. I am a foreigner and a sojourner among you. Give me property for a burial place among you that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

So Abraham recognized he was a stranger and a foreigner, just sojourning in the land alongside the Canaanites. In Genesis 47, we read that Jacob realized the same thing about himself. He came down and also dwelt after he had, of course, been born and grew up in the land as a pilgrim and stranger. He then sought his wife. He came back with his wives and children. And he also wandered around the land of Canaan and recognized that he was a pilgrim and a sojourner.

Genesis 47 and verse 7, Joseph brought his father into Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Jacob could tell that, or Pharaoh rather could tell that Jacob had a few years on him. How old are you? He said. Well, Jacob said to Pharaoh, the days of the years of my pilgrimage are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life. It's not been an easy pilgrimage. And they have not attained to the days of the years of life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. I've not lived as long as my father and my grandfather. So Jacob then realized that he was a stranger, a pilgrim, and a sojourner. Well, God gave the land of their pilgrimage, the pilgrimage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He gave that land to the Israelites. Let's go to Genesis 6 and verse 4. And this is where God is beginning to call Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery back to the land he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And he said in verse 4, I have established my covenant with them. Who? Well, in verse 3, I appeared to Abraham and Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty. By my name, Lord, I was not known to them. I have also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage in which they were strangers. Yes, they were pilgrims. They were sojourners in the land. But God was now giving it to the Israelites. No longer they were going to come in and possess the land. No longer would they then be pilgrims and sojourners, would they? Well, in one sense, no, but in another very real sense, they were. And let's read about that in Leviticus chapter 25. Even though they came in and possessed the land, how were they to look at themselves? Well, in Leviticus chapter 25, this is a very important chapter in many ways. It is the chapter on the year of the Jubilee, that 50th year where land would return to the family owners and where debts would be canceled. And those who had sold themselves as bondservants were set free. So the Jubilee year was a year of release.

You know, think about it. It had tremendous economic implications, and in a way the world today very much needs a Jubilee and a fresh start. That's what the Jubilee year gave the Israelites, a fresh start. Today, nations are so deeply in debt. There are so many problems. We need a Jubilee, and a year of release. It would have tremendous economic benefit if we were to do it in a right way. Well, in Leviticus chapter 23, 25, rather, in verse 23, in this year of Jubilee, the land went back to the families that owned it. They could lease it out, but it was not, notice that the land shall not be sold permanently. Why? For the land is mine. You know, even though we own a piece of property or a house or land, it still belongs to God. God is the ultimate owner of everything, and He kind of lets us use it. So He said, the land is not to be sold permanently. The land is mine, for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. So even after the Israelites went in to take the land, it became theirs. They still work to view themselves like pilgrims and sojourners. Why is that? Well, you know, you take your own piece of land or your house, you enjoy it. I know we do our place. We have a garden. We enjoy walking around and doing things in the yard. It's very nice, but yet we're just a sojourner there. Why? Because we're not going to be around forever. We're just a pilgrim, and we must realize that. And the land, after all, permanently belongs to God. He kind of lends it to us. He lets us enjoy it. But we're like a pilgrim and a sojourner, as we do. In 1 Chronicles 29, King David realized that at this time, in this physical life, we're to look at ourselves as being just a pilgrim and sojourner.

Here he was gathering up all kinds of material for the building of a temple. It would be his son, Solomon, who would actually build the temple. And so David was collecting all kinds of gold and silver and wood and other precious things for the building of the temple. And he asked the people to give, and they gave willingly. It says in verse 9, they offered willingly because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord. And King David also rejoiced greatly. Then we have this prayer of praise to God beginning in verse 10. Blessed are you, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, and the glory, and the victory.

And verse 12, both riches and honor come from you, and you reign over all. In your hand is power and might. In your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. But who am I? You know, these three words are beautiful words to remember when you look at yourself and the blessings you have. Who am I? Who am I to have blessings and things that are good? Who am I? And who are my people that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you and of your own we have given you.

And that's the way it is. It all belongs to God of His, of God's, then we give back to Him. And verse 15, for we are aliens and pilgrims before you, as were all our fathers.

You know, the margin says here sojourners, temporary residents, transients, temporary residents, in an even more temporary sense these words that are translated aliens and pilgrims. We are aliens and pilgrims before you, as were all our fathers. You know, it's very healthy for us to realize that. It ties in with the Feast of Tabernacles and dwelling in a temporary booth. We even, at many times, brought out that our motel rooms, you know, we don't go down to Jekyll Island or somewhere and recommend that you go out and start cutting branches and building a booth out there somewhere. You'd be hauled off if you even tried to do such a thing by the authorities. But the motel rooms and the facilities in which we stay, sometimes they're very nice, but even so we should consider them as being temporary dwelling places at the Feast of Booths, the Feast of Tabernacles. There's something temporary there about our stay, something where we are to learn.

So that we are pilgrims and sojourners. Yes, verse 15 is a beautiful verse as far as perspective. We are aliens and pilgrims before you, as were all our fathers. Our days on earth are as a shadow and without hope. You know, our time here goes by very quickly. Indeed, they're like a shadow, a shadow just fades away before long. And that's like this physical life. Let's go to Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 and verse 19. Psalm 119 and verse 19, David here simply said, I am a stranger in the earth. I'm a sojourner. I'm a pilgrim. Do not hide your commandments from me. It's healthy of us to realize our state because we're all temporary residents. We're all here just for a moment. We're guests. Our human life is like a temporary tabernacle, a temporary booth. The Feast of Tabernacles helps to remind us that we are temporary sojourners. We are pilgrims. It's very good of us to realize that. And people in the Millennium are going to realize it. Think of that. In the Millennium, people will have blessings. Everyone will have just plenty of food. Everyone will share the wealth. No one will be caught up in poverty, and filth, and go hungry. Everybody will have plenty. They'll be blessed richly because of the obedience to the laws of God and the blessings of Jesus Christ as the King over all the earth. And yet, people in the Millennium are going to learn the lesson of the Feast of Booths, the Feast of Tabernacles, that this physical life is not what we put our hope in. They are just pilgrims and sojourners. They will come to admit they are just very temporary residents in their physical state, and they will realize the need for something eternal and spiritual just as we do. Let's go back to Psalm 39 and verse 4.

So the Feast of Tabernacles, then, one of the deep lessons of the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Booths, is that this physical life is very short indeed. And we're just here as pilgrims, as sojourners for a moment. And the lesson that we should learn is that we should use the time that we do have for the intended purpose that God has in mind. Psalm 39 and verse 4, Lord, and isn't this a good prayer for all of us? Lord, make me to know my end.

Please help me. This is good to meditate about. We know we have a beginning. We've not always existed. Well, what about our end? What lies ahead? Make me to know my end. And what is the measure of my days? That I may know how frail I am. We're just strangers and pilgrims on the earth. We're just a vapor, a shadow. Indeed, verse 5, indeed you have made my days as hand-breaths, and my age is as nothing before you. Certainly every man at his best date is but vapor. Surely every man walks about like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. And we do, don't we? Get all involved in some of the physical pursuits. But where's it leading? He heaps up riches and does not know who will gather them. And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

So you see, the Feast of Tabernacles helps us to get a perspective on our physical life. We see that we are temporary residents. We're just here for a time. We're a guest on God's property. We're a pilgrim and a sojourner. And in verse 12, hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry. Do not be silent at my tears, for I am a stranger with you, a sojourner, as all my fathers were. And we come to recognize that more fully as we go along. We're just strangers and pilgrims on this earth in this physical tabernacle, this temporary abode, this human life. Let's turn to James 4. What is this human life? You know, it's good to be reminded of this every now and then. The Feast of Tabernacles is a good time to remind us the Feast of Booths, dwelling in these temporary tabernacles, our human bodies, which are like a shadow and a vapor.

In James 4 and verse 13, Come now, you who say, today or tomorrow, we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, we'll buy and sell and make a profit. You know, humans do often have these big plans and they just are so sure that they can bring it about and make a big profit, make lots of money. Oh, but what about verse 14? Cautians, uh, square as you do not know what will happen tomorrow.

We don't, do we? For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. He reminds us of what we read in Psalm 39. Instead, you ought to say, here's a proper perspective, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. You know, James has a way of coming straight from the shoulder, the brother of Jesus Christ. He just, there's no doubt what he's saying. You boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. So the Scriptures caution us to realize that, yes, we are living as a temporary resident on this earth. Our bodies are like a temporary booth, a temporary tabernacle. The Feast of Tabernacles helps to remind us of that truth.

So what should we be doing? We should recognize this truth and we should be using the time that we do have so that we may grow and that we may overcome. Let's turn to Psalm 90. Psalm 90, and we'll read the first 12 verses. If you notice the small print for Psalm 90, this is not a Psalm of David. It's actually a prayer of Moses, the man of God. Moses did some deep thinking also about human life and we get some very good thinking here and what we should do about it as far as being a temporary resident, a pilgrim and sojourner on the earth. Psalm 90 and verse 1, small print again is, a prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

You're the same God. You ever think about that? The same God you prayed to is the one Abraham prayed to, the one that Enoch prayed to, the God that has well been there for every generation down through human history. You've been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever, you have formed the earth and the world. Before all creation of the earth and the universe, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. You can do some deep pondering about that.

You turned man, by contrast, God has always existed, but you made man turn him to destruction and said, return, O children of men. For a thousand years in your sight, or like yesterday when it's passed, and like a watch in the night, you carry away like a flood.

They are like a sheep. It talks about human life and how quickly it can be taken away. In the morning, they are like grass, which grows up. In the morning, it flourishes and grows up. In the evening, it's cut down and withers. That's human life. That's this present tabernacle, this booth. For we have been consumed by your anger and by your wrath we are terrified.

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance. For all our days have passed away in your wrath. We finish our years like a sigh. I think Moses must have been maybe coming on toward the latter part of his life.

We finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are 70 years, and if by reason of strength they are 80 years, yet their most is only labor and sorrow.

For it is soon cut off and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger, for as the fear of you so is your wrath. So here's the conclusion then of this, the basic thing in this chapter that's so important in this sermon. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Teach us then to use this this booth or this tabernacle wisely to make every day count.

Teach us to number our days. Let's go to 2 Corinthians now, and so we should, coming back from the Feast of Tabernacles, think about our human life and how short and temporary it is, and make the time count. Redeem the time, as the Apostle Paul put it. 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 6.

We read about this physical tabernacle and what it may become in the future, and what we should be doing. In 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 6, for it is the God who for it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

In other words, God has called us. He's enlightened us. He's opened our minds to understand what human life is all about, the purpose of that God is working out here below. And it is to be, it is great glory in God's family. But notice in verse 7 we have this treasure in earthen vessels in a temporary booth or tabernacle. We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.

We're hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. In this book Paul is talking about all the suffering he was going through as a minister of Christ. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Struck down, but not destroyed. Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

And so he goes on to talk a little bit more about that and he comes on down to in verse 16, therefore we do not lose heart. Even though he was going through severe persecution and trial, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing.

Now this temporary booth or tabernacle is getting older every day. It's perishing. Yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. The inward man would be the character and nature of God that is being developed in us by the Spirit of God after we have received that Spirit. In verse 17, for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. So we're looking at something that isn't seen by human eyes, but we see it in the spirit of our mind through the help of God's Spirit. And then he talks about this physical booth, this temporary life in verse 1 of the next chapter, chapter 5 and verse 1. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, the word tent is the same as tabernacle's, feast of tabernacle's, this tent, this booth. If our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building. And by being destroyed, he means if this physical life were to end.

He says we have a building from God. There's an eternal type building that we have in mind that is our goal. A house not made with hands, an eternal type tabernacle or building, eternal in the heavens. So that's what we must set our minds on. The feast of tabernacle's shows we are pilgrims and sojourners. We stay in a temporary abode for those seven, well, eight days. And we learn some valuable lessons from it. And we're looking for an eternal tabernacle up ahead.

In verse 2, Paul goes on to say, In this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation, which is from heaven. We'd like to go on to immortality, that eternal tabernacle. If indeed having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. That is coming up short of the preparation that is required and be naked. In verse 4, For we who are in this tent, in this physical tent or tabernacle, groan. We do. Being burdened. Not because we want to be unclothed. We don't want life to end. But further clothed, we'd like a change to immortality, wouldn't we? That mortality may be swallowed up by life. These are some very rich words that pertain to what we are really striving for as pilgrims and sojourners for a spiritual tabernacle or building from God. And our mortality will be swallowed up by life. Now, he who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. We have God's Spirit as an earnest of that eternal tabernacle already. Therefore, he goes on to say, we are always confident knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. While we continue this physical life, this physical tabernacle, then we're not with Christ yet. No, we're not. We're not spirit and beside him as long as we are then in this present tabernacle or human life. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased, rather, to be absent. We wouldn't mind being absent from this physical tabernacle. To be absent from the body and be present with the Lord. You know, some people read these verses and they read, going up to heaven. They say, well, Paul was looking so much to going up to heaven and being there with, you know, up in heaven. But they totally misunderstand what he is saying. And because Paul later would write himself that the Lord, the righteous judge, would give him that crown of righteousness at his coming. Paul knew that his death, he was going to be dead. But there would be a resurrection in the future. We're going on to verse 9, therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to him. So that's what we want to do as we go on forward after the Feast of Tabernacles, realizing this is this life is we're just pilgrims and strangers. But we are preparing for an eternal abode or dwelling and with a spirit body as a member of God's own family. He said in verse 10, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things done in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. So we should be busy preparing for that eternal tabernacle. The Feast of Tabernacles just kind of underscores that, living in the temporary dwelling place, underscores that we are just pilgrims and strangers at this present time, pilgrims and sojourners.

So, first thing, we should go on forward and we should draw close to God and obey him, do his will, do what is pleasing to him. In 1 Peter chapter 1, the Apostle Peter wrote about his sojourning and about ours. Peter had in 1 and 2 Peter some things to say about dwelling in this temporary tabernacle or booth. We'll get to that in just a moment. 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 13, Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. So, brethren, let us gird up our minds and be sober and rest our hope fully on God's kingdom. And verse 14, as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts as in your ignorance, but as he who called you as holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.

So, let's, with God's help going forward to word, God's holiness in us. In verse 17, And if you call on the Father, Father who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning. See, even the way this is expressed here shows we are pilgrims and sojourners. We're just here for a limited length of time.

We are temporary residents. So, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning, throughout the time of your pilgrimage, here, in fear, in fear of God, seeking to do God's will in our lives. Let's go to 2 Peter chapter 1.

2 Peter chapter 1. Peter writes about, while he writes this just before he was to be martyred, he writes about taking on the divine nature of God in verse 4. In verse 5, he wrote about adding to our faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, and then self-control, and then perseverance, and godliness, and brotherly kindness, and love. And he says, if these things abound in verse 8, then you will be neither barren nor unfruitful. And verse 11, an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But notice verses 12 through about 14. Therefore, I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, as long as my pilgrimage continues, as long as I'm in this temporary tabernacle or booth, to stir you up by reminding you. So Peter was going to go right on to the end of his life, stirring and doing things that would help God's people, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. So Peter was doing the work of God right up to the end of his life. And as long as he was in that temporary dwelling, he was going to keep doing the work of God. So must we. Let's go back to 1 Peter 1 and verse 1.

Just a couple of more verses in 1 Peter.

1 Peter 1 and verse 1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. The margin again says for pilgrims, sojourners, temporary residents. That's what we've been talking about today. And it's really one of the underlying meanings of the Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Booths. We are just temporary residents in this human life. We have this tent, this temporary tabernacle. But we are preparing to be preparing for an eternal tabernacle that with our bodies to be fashioned like that of Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter 2 and verse 9, but you are—there are four things here that we are—you are a chosen generation. We're here because of God's calling. No one comes to Christ except the Father draws him. You are a chosen generation. And it's a high calling. A royal priesthood. That means we are being trained to be a king and priest. Royal has to do with being a king. A royal priesthood. A king and priest.

A holy nation, even though many different tongues and languages were still, through God's Spirit, one holy nation. His own special people—and the word special in the Greek means bought and purchased—a purchased people that God has acquired for Himself. He's paid for us by the blood of His Son. So that's who we are. A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's own purchased people. And why? That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. It shows we have a work to do. Let's go forward doing it, proclaiming the praises of God. Who once were not a people, but are now the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. And that is verse 11, ties in with the sermon today. Beloved, I beg you, as sojourners and pilgrims—that's what the sermon has been about—that we are sojourners and pilgrims. I beg you, as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust that war against the soul. So certainly this world and its lust is coming at us, the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh. And we are to abstain, to come out and be separate from the world. Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, honorable before people in the world, that when they speak against you as evildoers—and there may be opposition and some persecution—they may, by your good works, which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. You know, during your lifetime you have the opportunity, your years in the church, you will likely have the opportunity for dozens and maybe hundreds—I don't know, maybe some thousands of people may know about you keeping the Sabbath, keeping the Holy Days. They may not understand why or agree with you, but still your example is there. Your light is shining. They see it. One day they will glorify God. They'll remember you and what you are doing. So by your example, you have the opportunity to preach the gospel to many, many people—relatives, friends, neighbors, fellow workers, and others.

So that's what verse 12 is talking about. But verse 11 again, Peter pleads that we, as sojourners and pilgrims, come out of the world to live God's holy and righteous way of life, and let our light shine and proclaim a message to the world.

President, after the Feast of Tabernacles, then let's keep our faith strong. Let's continue to grow spiritually. Let the feast, looking back at it, remind us that we had those temporary dwelling places and that we are pilgrims and strangers.

Let's keep our eyes on the Kingdom of God, as Jesus said, and seek it first. Come out of the world and be separate, as Paul wrote and as John wrote, overcome the world. Fellow pilgrims and sojourners, that's what we are. We are pilgrims and sojourners in this world. After a wonderful feast of tabernacles, let's go forward toward the eternal tabernacle from God.