Such is the condition of the child of God

Posted : 23 Feb, 2013 02:15 AM

Psalm 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not Your

commandments from me.





Such is the condition of the child of God-a stranger in the

earth! This confession, however, from a solitary wanderer

would have had little comparative meaning. But in the mouth

of one, who was probably surrounded with every sort of

worldly enjoyment, it shows at once the vanity of ''earth's best

joys," and the heavenly tendency of the religion of the Bible.

This has been ever the character, confession, and glory of the

Lord's people. We "would not live always;" and gladly do we

hear the warning voice, that reminds us to "arise and depart,

for this is not our rest." And was not this especially the

character, not of David only, but of David's Lord? Born at an

inn-not "having where to lay His head"-suffering hunger subsisting upon alms-neglected by His own-He "looked for

some to take pity, but there was none, and for His comforters, but He found none"-might He not justly take up the

confession-"I am a stranger in the earth?"

This verse exhibits the Christian in many most interesting

points of view; distant from his proper home-without a fixed

residence-with no particular interest in the world-and

submitting to all the inconveniences of a stranger on his

journey homewards. Such is his state! And the word of God

includes all that he needs-a guide, a guard, a companion-to

direct, secure, and cheer his way. "When you go, it shall lead

you; when you sleep, it shall keep you; and when you awake,

it shall talk with you." Most suitable then is the stranger's

prayer-"hide not Your commandments from me."

Acquaintance with the word of God supplies the place of

friends and counselors. It furnishes light, joy, strength, food,

armor, and whatever else he may need on his way

homewards.

The pilgrim-spirit is the pulse of the soul. All of us are traveling

to eternity. The worldling is at home in the earth-a pilgrim only

by restraint. His heart would say-"It is good for me to be here.

Let God dispose of heaven at His pleasure. I am content to

have my "portion in this life." The child of God is a stranger in

the earth. Heaven is the country of his birth. His kindred-his

inheritance-his Savior-his hope-his home-all is there. He is "a

citizen of no mean city," of "the heavenly Jerusalem." He is

therefore a pilgrim in affection no less than in character. How

cheering is the thought, that "here we have no continuing

city," if in heart and soul we are "seeking one to come!"

We know, indeed, that we cannot-we would not-call this world

our home, and that it is far better to be without it, than to have

our portion in it. But do we never feel at home in the earth,

thus forgetting our proper character, and our eternal

prospects? Do we always live, speak, and act as "strangers in

the earth;" in the midst of earthly enjoyments sitting loose to them, as if our treasure was in heaven? Does our

conversation in the society of the world savor of the home,

where we profess to be going? Is the world gaining

ascendancy in our affection? Let the cross of Calvary be the

object of our daily contemplation-the ground of our constant

"glorying;" and the world will then be to us as a "crucified"

object. And lastly, let us not forget, that we are looking

forward, and making a progress towards a world, where none

are strangers-where all are children of one family, dwelling in

one eternal home. "In our Father's house," said our gracious

Head, "are many mansions: I go to prepare a place for you."



by

Charles Bridges

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