August 17, 2026 
Strangers and pilgrims on the earth!
Hebrews 11:13, “They acknowledged that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
This poor world is a boarding-house in which we lodge for a night or two, but it is not our home. The furniture is not ours, the title-deeds are not in our name, and the lease will soon expire. Why then, do we fret over its broken chairs, or quarrel about the best rooms? The Christian’s true estate lies yonder, where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. Let us hold all earthly things with a loose hand, lest when the Master calls, we be found glued to the toys of the nursery, instead of ready for the palace of the King.
The path of the Christian pilgrim is not strewn with flowers, but with thorns. He must expect to be misunderstood by the men of this world, for he speaks a different language and seeks a different country.
Beloved friends, you and I are passing through Vanity Fair, but we are not free to set up shop there. The true pilgrim buys none of the merchandise of the place–neither its honors, its pleasures, nor its empty praise. He has his treasure in Heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt.
A pilgrim must travel light. The more luggage he carries, the more weary he becomes. So the Christian is called to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets him. Houses, lands, gold, and reputation are heavy burdens for a man who is bound for eternity.
This world is a wilderness, and though the desert winds howl and the fiery serpents hiss, the pilgrim need not fear. His God has sworn to bring him safely to the land that flows with milk and honey–the better country of everlasting rest.
Our Lord Jesus was the great Pilgrim who had nowhere to lay His head. If we are in Him, we must share His pilgrim spirit. The crossmarks the pilgrim’s pathway, but the crown lies at the end of it!
We are pilgrims and strangers upon the earth, and we do well to remember it every day we live. This poor world is not our rest, for it is polluted! Our home is beyond the river of death, in the land where the flowers never fade and the sun never sets. Let us not build our nests too firmly in these trees that will soon be cut down, but keep our hearts loose from earthly things, that when the trumpet sounds we may rise and enter into the joy of our Lord.
What is this poor dying world, that we should fall in love with it? Its smiles are deceitful, its riches take wings and fly away, and its pleasures bite like adders! The believer has been taught by the Spirit to call it what it is–a broken cistern, a fading flower, a temporary tent. His heart is fixed on things above, not on earthly toys.
To the true believer, this world is a wilderness, dry and barren, full of serpents and thorns. He finds no lasting satisfaction in its broken cisterns. He is a pilgrim passing through, and though the road may be rough and the sky dark, he knows that every step brings him nearer to the city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
“Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined beyond all remedy!” Micah 2:10
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul!” 1 Peter 2:11
iChristian 
These words resound so strongly in my heart. I’m longing for my heavenly home, yet occupy until the Lord returns or takes me to heaven. Thank you, for sharing. Brought tears.
Thank you so much Sue. It means a lot to know that these words touched your heart so deeply. I think that longing for our heavenly home is something many of us feel, especially when we realise more and more that this world was never meant to be our final destination. Until the Lord calls us home, we keep travelling, serving, encouraging one another and looking to Jesus. One day, by His grace, the journey will be over and we will finally be home. What a glorious day that will be! God bless you, my friend. 🙏
I’m looking forward to seeing Spurgeon when I get to heaven. At least I hope that will be a thing in heaven, seeing those dead saints that have inspired us on the road of life. My list of dead Saints that I appreciate is growing. On our shopping trip to Spokane this past Saturday we listened to one of Spurgeon’s sermons read in the appropriate British accent. It was so good and encouraging. Next I’d like to listen to a sermon by Martin Lloyd-Jones.
I know that seeing Jesus will be the ultimate and best but I still would like to talk to Spurgeon, Jones, Ryle, Sproul, Tyndale, Knox and others.
Hope this fresh week ahead is a good one in your corner of the world.
Oh Ellen, I love the thought of sitting down with Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones, Ryle, Sproul, Tyndale, Knox and all those other faithful saints! I suspect we’d need an eternity just to get through all the questions we’d want to ask them. 😂
And funny you should mention Martin Lloyd-Jones, because he is actually one of my favourites. I’ve listened to literally hundreds of his sermons over the years through the MLJ Trust iPhone app and their YouTube channel. There is something about listening to him preach that never seems to get old. His depth of Scripture, clarity and ability to make eternal truths feel incredibly relevant still amazes me.
I also love that you were listening to Spurgeon’s sermon in the car with the appropriate British accent! Somehow, I think Spurgeon himself would approve. 😂
Of course, as you rightly say, seeing Jesus will be the ultimate and greatest joy of heaven. As wonderful as it would be to meet the saints who have encouraged and shaped our faith, they will all point us to the One who saved us.
Thank you for sharing this, Ellen, and I hope this fresh week is a blessed one for you too. Keep looking up, sister. We’re pilgrims heading home. 🙏