Why are people so enamored with aliens? Maybe, because, here on earth, in this world, we were meant to be aliens? Could it be that so many are interested in alien life forms because that is what we were meant to be - something “better, greater” than what we are, doing something bigger, better than what we do?
Is our interest in aliens because we are looking for something transcendent, something that rises above our humanity? Is it that we are hoping and wishing for something outside and different from ourselves - something that appears bigger, stronger, smarter, maybe even wiser than ourselves? Something that does better than we have or do?
And if we can’t be that - bigger, stronger, smarter, wiser than we have been and are, maybe we can make up something that is.
The truth is, we, who are in Christ, are all the world imagines an “alien” to be. In Him, by His spirit, we are bigger, stronger, smarter, and wiser - able to do so much more and better than we have ever been able to do - on our own.
Jesus came so that we can actually live according to that hope we all have - that by the Holy Spirit - we can be bigger, stronger, smarter, and wiser than when we were of this world - not (just) in this world, but, through Christ, we are truly aliens, one’s whose lives ACTUALLY transcend this world and its ways.
People are enamored with aliens because God made us to want something more than this world is and gives, He wants us to seek something that is other-world, He has designed the heart of mankind to be enthralled with something truly, really, actually - other - that is Him, and the transformed alien lives of those in Him. (John 1:12-14; Romans 1:18-; Eph 2:1-7; 1Peter 2)
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh a and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Why all this talk of being alien?
Because we do not belong to this world - we are in it, but not to be of it - it is ours, the living, to live among the dying, to bring the hope of something more - bigger and better - something truly alien. The world is looking for something “out of this world”, may we, in Christ, give them that.
What makes us alien?
Hope - Peter, speaks of hope. What is hope? In Who is our hope placed?
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In all this you greatly rejoice
Hope: expectation, trust, confidence (not in self, but God, in Christ). to anticipate, welcome, an expectation of what is sure - certain - of good, a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. (Acts 23:6; 26:7; Romans 5:4;12:12; 15:13; 1Cor 13:13; 1 Peter 1:3; 3:15)
In what, in whom, do we place our hope? If it is Jesus, who He is, and what it is He has done for us and is doing in us, then, since we are anchored in Him, saved by Him, we can go on with confidence to live the way God commands - to live a life of love, service, and sacrifice. (Rom 12; Phil 2)
It is in this hope, because of this hope, Christ - the hope of glory, that we can live as aliens.
Because our hope is in Christ…
We ought live to as the aliens we are, living according to our faith and hope as we realize the peace we have with God - a joyful, transcendent peace - a peace, anchored in our hope, that makes our lives look ridiculous under the current circumstances - that our lives, lived in and with that transcendent peace, remains sober and self-controlled, as this peace protects our (Philippians 4:4-8)
Hearts - our faith, the anchor for our soul - are guarded from the feelings of anxiousness, fear, doubt, despair, and dread
Minds - our thinking is guarded from the lies of the evil one, from the convincing deceit of our own heart’s desires, and the temporary enticements of this world
Because of this alien hope…
Our lives (can) transcend the circumstances of these current times because God transcends the times - He uses the times, within the times, but is not controlled by the times - HE is sovereign over time - and because we have eternal life, a life hidden with God in Christ - God uses these times, even the worst of times, in the lives of His children that is “He works…” these times, that is “...all things, for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purposes…” (Romans 8).
Because we have hope, we can, as aliens, do gooder, better, even in the face of opposition…
Because we are aliens, the world cannot understand our goodness (1Pet 3), our joy, our hope, or the peace we live in (which is) based on the truth of WHOM and what we place our hope - our lives (should) look different because we are different. Our lives look different because our God is different. Our lives look different, because what and on whom we place our hope is different.
It is not in the world and its ways, but in God and His way, His Son, and His undying love for us who believe. (Rom 12; Eph 2; Col 3)
Being an alien is the very purpose of our being here still - to live as examples of the hope we have in God in Christ, it is to show God’s grace - in perfect contrast to this world - as this world spirals, seemingly out of control, God stands in the midst of it, in us, calling out to the world through us, that those who see and hear might turn, and be saved too.
We’re going to look at Jeremiah 29
Jeremiah 29 how are we to live as “the scattered”? As aliens, strangers in this world? Those who are in it, but not of it? Are we to be fearful and hopeless? Overcome by the anxious hand-wringing of trepidation because of…?
Our lives can and should reflect the truth of our being God’s children, living under His wing, eternally - unaffected - by the condition of this world, not that our hearts are unaffected for the sake of the lost; no, our hearts should be effected at the witnessing of the world’s condition effected in such a way as to grieve, mourn, and moved with compassion toward them.
What I mean by “unaffected” is that our hope is not shaken, that we live in and with the confidence of our being saved by Him and in Him, is unaffected, that is to be crippled or diverted.
Instead, because of our hope, despite our inevitable suffering, (which is) the condition of this world, and its circumstances, we live lives in it and among the dying that are the fruit of the hope we have in Christ Jesus, who did and does overcome this world - resting in the grace given to us, the gift of life in Christ, and our eternal hope in Him and His loving work on our behalf, to the glory of His Father -
We are free to live above our circumstances, unencumbered by the fear of death or judgment, the condemnation of sin, or fear of retribution (by God), but, as ones loved by God, cherished and precious to Him, kept by His power.
So, how might our lives reflect this truth?
Gleaning from God’s commands to the aliens, strangers, exiles, among Israel - so that the way we live, is so different from, with such a different attitude, that people will ask… they will ask.
The world - is God’s concern (John 3:16), the peoples - are pursued by God (Babel - Acts), the nations - are used by God (Jeremiah 29), and persons - each one, are saved by God. Through who? Yes, saved by Jesus, but blessedly, through the body - us, me, and you… as we get to “Go…” (Matt 28)
Jeremiah 29
4This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.
7Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
10This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.
11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. b I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
1Peter 1
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout… chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
1Peter 2
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles - strangers, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Do not be afraid… live lives that baffle the world
13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
1Peter 3
