On the flight home from Israel yesterday, an older gentleman from Jerusalem was seated next to me. He asked me why I had been Israel in his heavily accented English, after pronouncing his pride in being a born Israeli who lived at the “center of the Earth” – “thanks be to God” – with hands raised. I told him that we were a tour group, Christian pilgrims. He smiled but was puzzled. “Pilgrim,” I came to understand, was a word he knew only in the context of Plymouth Rock of American history, and I didn’t much resemble Governor Bradford. I tried vainly to explain, so I turned to my phone and Google’s translate feature.
Delight broke over his face as he read the Hebrew translation – “Ah, you are those who are going upward in pursuit of God.” Pilgrim, in Hebrew context, refers to those who made the yearly ascent to Jerusalem for the holy days.
Peter calls us to live with our faces towards eternity, to keep our eyes on our true home - "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims…" (1 Peter 2:11, KJV) In Hebrews we are told of those who lived in great faith that "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. " (Hebrews 11:13, KJV)
What joy and peace are found in the understanding of pilgrimage. Instead of a religion to ensure our entrance to heaven or a weekly experience designed to produce psychological benefits, we become people who are guided by the beacon of hope, full of purpose in all of life’s ups and down’s.
Eugene Peterson, pastor and author, penned a great book (A Long Obedience in the Same Direction) that reflected on the Psalms of Ascent (120-134), the hymnal of the Jews on their way ‘up’ to Jerusalem. “Religion in our time has been captured by the tourist mindset. Religion is understood as a visit to an attractive site to be made when we have adequate leisure. For some it is a weekly jaunt to church. For others, occasional visits to specials services. Some, with a bent for religious entertainment and sacred diversion, plan their lives around special events like retreats, rallies and conferences. We go to see a new personality, to hear a new truth, to get a new experience and so, somehow, expand our otherwise humdrum lives. …
‘Pilgrim’ tells us we are people who spend our lives going
someplace, going to God, and whose path for getting there is the way, Jesus
Christ. We realize that “this world is not my home” and set out for the
“Father’s house.” Abraham, who “went out,” is our archetype.”
I am blessed to have walked where Jesus walked for the last 10 days, standing on those stones, praying in those places, seeing the wonder of the Bible’s context. However, my greatest joy is not knowing the past, but anticipating that I will live where Jesus lives, in the Presence of God, so my eyes are ever upward. Are yours?
Pilgrimage is not just for some, nor is it the privilege of
the ‘professional religious.’ It is the call of God to us all. Look up. Ever
onward!
Here is a word from the Word.
"No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you
are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
(John 14:5-6, NLT)
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge
crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that
slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let
us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by
keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.
He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew
would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside
God’s throne in heaven." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NLT)
(Video of this blog at this link)
____________________
Thou my everlasting portion
More than friend or life to me
All along my pilgrim journey
Savior let me walk with Thee
Close to Thee close to Thee
Close to Thee close to Thee
All along my pilgrim journey
Savior let me walk with Thee
Not for ease or worldly pleasure
Not for fame my prayer shall be
Gladly will I toil and suffer
Only let me walk with Thee
Close to Thee close to Thee
Close to Thee close to Thee
Gladly will I toil and suffer
Only let me walk with Thee
Lead me thro' the vale of shadows
Bear me o'er life's fitful sea
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter Lord with Thee
Close to Thee close to Thee
Close to Thee close to Thee
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter Lord with Thee
Fanny Jane Crosby
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