Thursday, July 16, 2015

When You Feel Like An Alien

Hey Friend,
 
It doesn't take a long conversation with my mom until she settles in on, what seems to be, her favorite saying, "Our world is going to hell in a handbasket!"
Now I know generally what she is referring to - that our world is rapidly deteriorating and is on a course for disaster. 
 
Being the nerdy-wordy person that I am, I got curious as to just where that phrase originated.  One theory of origin derives itself from the use of handbaskets in the guillotining method of capital punishment.  The decapitated heads were collected in baskets and were most likely destined for hell.
 
Gruesome indeed!  But when I see even more gruesome acts perpetrated against believers like the pastor and members of the church in Charleston who welcomed a supposed seeker with questions into God's house, only to be gunned down by him in a brutal mass killing, I am shaken! 
 
Or, the youth in Pakistan who had petroleum poured on him by Islamic extremists, and then was set ablaze in broad daylight, amidst busy streets and no officials came to his aid or defense, all because he professed to believing in Jesus Christ as his Savior. How can people do this to other people?
 
Add to that Judeo-Christian values, long held, being overturned in our court system and any symbol of Christianity (like the 10 Commandments) being banned from government property and I begin to feel much like my mother.
 
Often in this world, I feel like I don't belong...that I am an alien!  
 
This question I ask, "Is it a bad thing if you don't feel comfortable in this world?... or...Is it far worse if this place feels like home to you?"
 
The Apostle Peter used very intentional words when he pleaded with the church in his day, "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul."( 1 Peter 2:11)                             
 
Yet, I admit, that accepting my standing as an outsider remains a point of struggle for me. 
 
My soul was made with a desire to belong - but this world is not the place to which I should attach my soul...
 
If I allow myself to feel too comfortable here...something is desperately wrong!
 
I like what Cal Thomas, had to say in a recent article for Fox News:
 
"As a longtime fan of Broadway musicals and plays, I believe that the original cast is always better than the touring company.  Evangelical Christians should return to the 'original cast,' whose members include Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James and Timothy.  Consider their lives and tactics as they faced a hostile political and religious environment that brought persecution, even death.  These men - and their followers - had little interest in an earthly kingdom.  Instead they focused on that other kingdom, and billions of lives have been transformed in the centuries that followed."
 
I don't think he is saying to turn our backs on this world because it's a gonner, but perhaps one of the best quotes I've read was in the op-ed section of the news in Hudson, WI:
 
"We cannot change a fallen world, but we can be God's instrument in saving people from it.  Eternally speaking, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain."  (J. Wheeler)
 
There are a multitude of scriptures that will confirm that we are "not of this world" - that we are indeed "aliens".
 
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  (John 15:19)
 
If you aren't convinced?  Try:  John 18:36, or Romans 12:2, John 8:23, John 17:14, Ephesians 6:12...and the list goes on.
 
Okay, so now I'm a hated, alienated, outsider with little hope of changing the world in which I live...where's the hope in that?
 
Great hope lies in two facts: 
 
1.  We know how the story ends
2.  God has given us the Good News that can usher people to an  eternal kingdom where they WILL belong.
 
In John 16:33, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world."
 
What are "these things" that Jesus shares with his disciples?
 
-  The Spirit of Truth will come upon you and He will guide you.
 
-  "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while
    you will see me."  Your grief will turn to joy.
 
-  After a time of grief, I will see you again and you will rejoice and
   no one will be able to take away your joy (John 16:22)
 
-  An analogy in verse 21:  A woman giving birth to a child has pain
   because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets
   the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
 
Friends, we are in the labor pains right now.  Wherever Christians are persecuted, mocked, and tortured, the world groans with horrific labor pains.  But a day is coming that we will no longer feel like aliens.  We will have a glorious homecoming when Christ returns and our grief will turn to joy - a joy that no one will be able to take away. 
 
What about you?  Do you ever feel like an alien in this world?  What gives you the hope to carry on?
 
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you that through the shedding of the blood of your Son Jesus Christ, I am already a citizen of Heaven.  Help me to know that whenever I feel like an outsider, an alien, that this is truly a world that I am passing through and my eternal home is with you in Heaven.  Give me the strength and passion to stand up for my convictions, but when the world hates me, let me experience the peace of your promises.  I take heart because You have overcome the world.  Let me be an ambassador of peace, ushering those who are desperately seeking, into your Kingdom.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
 
Be blessed...

 
 
Ps. In our attempt to usher destitute children without hope into the joy and Kingdom of heaven, we are helping them seek refuge from the evil that surrounds them in their daily lives.  For only $10/month you can rescue one child and give them the hope of Jesus Christ and an education at Redeemer Christian School.  Would you consider sponsoring one child for $120/for one year or even $60/for half a year? 
 
See the faces of Nawaz and Muskan who have recently been sponsored.  There are now smiles on their faces where previously no joy existed.

 
 


Meet Nisha, Age 10
She has never been to school before.  Her mother is very sick so Nisha had to work in someone's home as a house cleaner just to survive.  Her first day of school at RCS she literally cried with joy.  She never dreamed that she would be able to go to school.
She needs a sponsor... 
 Meet Salman, age 7
He has never been to school either.  He went to work with his father and slaved under a harsh owner, for pitiful wages, as a brick maker at a brick kiln.  His story is not unlike the Jewish slaves in Egypt who made bricks for Pharoah.  Salman has found refuge at RCS and desperately wants to stay in school.
He needs a sponsor...
 Would you please prayerfully consider sponsoring, or providing partial sponsorship for one of these precious children so they can stay in school?  If so, please message me at:
 or
Contributions can be sent to:  Bev Rihtarchik (put RCS in the memo line)
                                                  103 Silver Lining Lane
                                                  Cary, NC  27513
 
* Though RCS is not yet a registered 501c3 ministry due to the high cost to do so, I can promise is every penny goes toward the education of a child you choose to sponsor!
 
Thank you for caring about the least of these...and letting them know they matter to God!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 

18 comments:

  1. Thank you Bev. I rejoice with you that these pains will end and our party will begin and never end. Praise our King. He will rule forever and ever and ever and ever and on and on and on. I celebrate this with you today! :) I am your neighbor on Susan's blog.

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    1. Kelly,
      My pastor suggested a good question/thought to start each day with..."Good morning Jesus! Are you coming today? If so, I'm ready!" Looking forward to the party along with you :)
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  2. Oh Bev, I am in tears, convicted of His great joy and knowing that I'm a transient in this fragile, broken world.

    Word-nerd...I read the dictionary and encyclopedia as a kid...cuz it was FUN!

    Hugs from my heart to yours. Susan

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    1. Susan,
      Yes, transients indeed, but with a crown of glory waiting for us...reason to celebrate!! Welcome sister "word-nerd" lol.
      ((hugs)),
      Bev

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  3. Bev- It is hard for joiners like us to feel like aliens. And it's lonely to be set apart. But this world is so in need of God - and we are here to join His kingdom work so that others may know Him. I loved the verses you cited and your encouragement here. It's a long road to heaven, and we need each other for those lonely, alienated times. I look forward to feeling at home in heaven- see you there! :)

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    1. Karen,
      As a sister "joiner" I feel this struggle everyday. It IS lonely to be set apart, but if we keep our eyes on the task at hand - inviting others to know Him - we are bound together with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Oh what a grand reunion it will be in Heaven :)
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  4. I do feel like an alien in my own world. It even shakes me to my core somedays as I feel helplessly out of control. Then I remember that I have given the control to God who is the Master of all Control. He leads and I follow and His path is exactly where I need to be. I cannot imagine the world without Jesus but mostly I cannot live without Him. Great post today, Bev. Thank you and blessings!

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    1. Mary,
      Do you think that God sometimes wants us to feel utterly out of control because it's the only way we will ultimately turn to Him? How many times I have to get to the end of myself until I finally look up! Even when we feel like aliens in this out of control world, we can be sure that He will lead us on the right path if we trust him.
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  5. Oh Bev, I have felt more like an alien of this world lately and find such comfort in your words here. Yes, we know how the story ends and we know this earth is not our home. That feeling of wanting to belong is as innate as breathing but when we belong to the Father, we can rest assured that He will never leave us. Thank you for sharing your heart, friend. Always blessed by your words.

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    1. Abby,
      Yes, feeling like an alien, but yet never alone because we belong to the Father...Praise! Thanks, as always, for your uplifting encouragement!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  6. Bev, great post...I've always felt like an alien, adoption rejection issues...but when I fix my eyes on Jesus, I feel greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved ❤️

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    1. Beth,
      We are ALWAYS beloved daughters of the King...I take my hope in that and pray you will too! Jesus was a living, breathing, walking example of God's incredible love for us...sending you that love...
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  7. Bev, I loved this. We are neighbors at Jennifer's today(I'm #48). I find myself saying that same quote as your mom! Now, maybe not so much to know the origin - UGHly! We really are just pilgrims in a foreign land. Oh sure we can love our little pieces on this earth but the older I get the more my heart yearns for "home" - true north. xo God bless you, sis.

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    1. Susan,
      Welcome, neighbor :) When I found out the origin of that phrase, I was kind of like...oh my!! You and me, both...two hearts homesick for Heaven! What a wonderful homecoming it will be!
      Blessings,
      Bev xo

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  8. Yes, alien status can feel pretty uncomfortable, but we follow One who also lived on this broken planet for a time. Thanks be to God for the truth of your words --He has not left us defenseless, comfortless, or alone!

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    1. Michele,
      So true what you point out...everything that we feel (ie: feeling like an alien), Jesus felt that too. He has walked our path and is faithful never to leave us comfortless or alone...Praise!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  9. Proud to be not of this world!!! Thanks for these beautiful words, Bev! #livefreeThursday

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    1. Crystal,
      There is something inside us...that still small voice...that whispers encouragement as we continue to be the salmon swimming upstream against the flow. So thankful for that! So glad you stopped by!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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