1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
While crossing one of the West African borders into another country, the immigration officer who stamped my passport told me that my stay was valid for one month. The stamp on my passport showed a month validity.
It dawned on me that all I wanted to do in that country must not exceed a month or else i'll run into trouble with the law of the land. The resident permit I had there was only for one month not permament.
As children of God, our divine permit to live in this world is temporary not permanent. Why? We are not from here. This is not our place of origin. We are on a crucial assignment temporarily. When our days are over, we'll return home.
Apostle Paul captured this thought saying, "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior"( Philippians 3:20 NLT). Did you see that? Our citizenship is not here but in heaven. Glory!
Any citizenship card we carry in this world is temporary. Very soon, when our assigned days are over, we'll go to where we came from. Halleluyah!!!
Knowing we do not belong here, apostle Peter enjoined that we keep away from worldly desires that wage war against our soul because one can be lost in a strange land. The pleasures and allures of strange land can make the heart drift. When you are in a strange land, you must be conscious of the fact that your liberty is restricted and monitored.
As it is my custom, while i'm outside my earthly country, I am always extra careful not to be found breaking the law or getting into issues that will make the law enforcement agencies come for me. If I ever get into their trouble, I'll be a bad ambassador of my home country and may be punished by their laws.
Same is expected of every child of God on this temporary earth. Live circumspectly knowing you represent a country up above whose image is known for purity and uprightness.
Those in the world may do as they like, dress the way they want, talk anyhow, drink anything and live anyhow but you shouldn't. This is because you are expected to live on this temporary earth the very life your country of permanent residence is known for.
Father, I receive the grace to live right on this temporary earth and to be a good ambassador of my heavenly country in Jesus name.