Hey, Stranger
Deal generously with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your Law.
I am a stranger on the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
My soul is crushed with longing
For Your ordinances at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed,
Who wander from Your commandments.
Take disgrace and contempt away from me,
For I comply with Your testimonies.
Even though rulers sit and speak against me,
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
Your testimonies also are my delight;
They are my advisers.
—Psalm 119:17-24
While this is a section in Psalms where the importance of God’s law is the focus of the psalmist, you may notice that I highlighted a sentence that almost seems like a throwaway verse in this section - I am a stranger on the earth. Is that because I believe our position is more important than God’s Word? Of course not! Clearly the psalmist didn’t think so either, since he mentions some form of God’s commands once every verse! I chose to highlight this verse because I believe it’s an important reminder of a change in perspective, circumstance, and starting point…
Before we have a relationship with God, we are strangers to God. After God brings us into a relationship with Him, we are no longer strangers to God, but we become strangers to this earth. That’s a total change in circumstance in the eternal realm! Yet, we are still physically here on earth. That’s where the change in perspective comes in. Before we know God, we have no sense of the eternal. All we really have is the here and now on this earth before we die. With that perspective, it makes sense that we would focus solely on all that is earthly as we pack all we can into one lifetime. However, once we know God we can begin to understand the eternal; specifically the fact that heaven is our new home. That means any place that is not heaven is a place where we are strangers, including this earth. That’s tough to wrap our minds around! Here is where we need to consider a change in starting point. Notice I didn’t say ending point. Our ending point has certainly changed too, but I’m counting that as our change in circumstance, because that changed the instant we came to truly know God. The reason I use ‘starting point’ is because our lives should be changing from strictly focused on starting with the things we want and desire, to focusing on what God wants and desires! Take a minute to reread the passage of scripture above. Do you notice how EVERY verse revolves around God and His Word? That is what having God as our starting point looks like!
So, I hope you will take some time out of your day to consider how your perspective, circumstance, and starting point has changed because of God. If it hasn’t, perhaps you can consult God about why that is the case. I am a stranger on the earth. I hope when I get to heaven I can say to you, “Hey, Stranger,” as we laugh at our former earthly wanderings and rejoice in the fact we are members of the blood-washed band!
Check out this awesome song by The Petersens including my favorite verse:
I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get home to that bright land
Well, I want to shout salvation's story
In concert with all the blood-washed band