In a Foreign Land

Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 119:17-24 ESV). There’s nothing like traveling to remind you how much you miss home! Recently Mary returned from some travel to Bermuda. She and her sister shared many wonderful experiences from the beautiful ocean views to the warm sunny sands. Mary also mentioned how it was often difficult to really understand the language as they use a different dialect and inflection in their speech. It seems they didn’t speak a lot of Texan and Mary didn’t speak a lot of Bermudan (if that’s even a word)! Both were English, but it was different, somehow foreign. As I read today’s verses, I was struck with the declaration from the psalmist that we are indeed foreigners in this land. There is a sense about that truth that ought to drive us to focus on our home in heaven more than our home here. This is not to say that we should not live our lives in the present, but to understand that this present life is not all there is in life. There is an old legend of a swan and a crane. A beautiful swan alighted by the banks of the water in which a crane was wading about seeking snails. For a few moments the crane viewed the swan in stupid wonder and then inquired, “Where do you come from?” “I come from heaven!” replied the swan. “And where is heaven?” asked the crane. “Heaven!” said the swan, “Heaven! Have you never heard of heaven?” And the beautiful bird went on to describe the grandeur of the Eternal City. She told of streets of gold, and the gates and walls made of precious stones, of the river of life, pure as crystal, upon whose banks is the tree whose leaves shall be for the healing of the nations. In eloquent terms the swan sought to describe the hosts who live in the other world, but without arousing the slightest interest on the part of the crane. Finally the crane asked, “Are there any snails there?” “Snails!” repeated the swan; “No! Of course there are not.” “Then,” said the crane, as it continued its search along the slimy banks of the pool, “you can have your heaven. I want snails!” It is very easy to lose sight of the “then-and-there” as we live in the “here-and-now.” It is very easy to focus on gathering our snails! Today let your commitment be focused on the delight that awaits those who have given themselves into the hands of Jesus. His promise to us is to be with us in our journey here, and to keep us safe until we reach our ultimate destination and home in heaven. Regardless of how difficult the day may seem, remember that you are only passing through this foreign land while you make your way home.