In Exile
Have you ever felt like you didn't fit in? Maybe all your friends are really into running. And it's all they talk about. And none of it sounds remotely fun to you. Getting up before the sun? Getting all sweaty? Losing your toe nails? Needing to carefully schedule your toilet visits? No way! Maybe you've even quoted Proverbs 21:1 to them. You know the one about 'only the wicked flee when no one pursues.'
But seriously, it doesn't feel great to not fit in. And as Christians we can often feel this way. Like we just can't relate to this world. Like we're walking a different path. Like we don't really belong here. And maybe that's because we don't.
In the opening verse of 1 Peter, Peter addresses his letter 'to those who are elect exiles…..' That's us. We are in exile, living in a land that is not our home. No wonder we don't fit in.
So, what does it mean to be living in exile as God's elect?
Elect means to be set apart, distinct from the world. And as God's elect, our mind-set and behavior is to be different from the world. We have been rescued from God's wrath and are called to now live in our new status as God's children.
We are called to pursue holiness, to love one another, to bear witness to Christ. Peter urges his readers to "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the Day of visitation." (1 Pet 2:12). We are to live a life that is attractive to others, that shines God's light in the darkness of this world.
However, as you may have experienced, living faithfully for Christ leaves us vulnerable to ridicule and persecution. We ought not to be surprised by this. We'll speak differently to others, put our priorities into different things, and spend our time and money differently. When we follow God's ways, we will be different from the world around us.
And that's ok because this world is not our home. We live in a place that is not our home. We are exiles living away from our heavenly home. And so, we don't fit in here. Yet, as we live as faithful witnesses for Christ in this place, we can look forward to the 'crown of glory' that awaits in the world to come (1 Pet 5:4). Life in the present, can be lived in light of future glory. By fixing our eyes on our heavenly home, we can receive great hope and joy.
And before we close with some verses from 1 Peter let me just say, if one of those crazy runners invites you go out running with them, maybe you should try it. You might just love it.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials."
1 Peter 1:3-6
Blessings
Caroline
