1 Chronicles 29:15

“We are pilgrims and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.”

The more truly pious we are, the more shall we be clothed with humility. On no occasion had David evinced more exalted piety, than in his preparations for the building and furnishing the temple, which he was not permitted in his lifetime to erect. “He had prepared for it with all his might,” “because he had set his affection to the house of his, God verse 2, 3.” And what reflections did these efforts generate in his mind? Was he filled with self-delight? Did he assume any merit to himself? No! he gave to God the glory of all that had been done, acknowledging that the power to do it was the effect of God’s bounty, and the disposition to do it the fruit of his grace.

A more sublime ascription of praise will scarcely be found in all the Book of God, than that which he uttered on this occasion. He bore in mind, that, as his continuance here was but of short duration, itbefit him to exert himself with all possible zeal, while any opportunity to serve God remained. The expressions which he made use of in my test will lead me to show you,

I. The present state of believers as it is here represented.

Christians are but “strangers and pilgrims” upon earth.

This world is not our home. If we are saints indeed, then we are children of a heavenly Father; and Heaven itself is our true home. 1 Peter 1:3-4.

This world is but a wilderness through which we are passing to our Father’s house! We are mere pilgrims here. The people among whom we sojourn are governed by different laws, and speak a different language, and are strangers to us, even as we are to them.

We are only like travelers at an inn. If our accommodations are good, we are thankful for them; but we are not overly elated, because we regard them as merely momentary, and have our minds intent on far higher joys to come.

On the other hand, if our accommodations at our earthly inn are of a less comfortable nature, we feel no great disappointment. We consider that as connected to our state as pilgrims. We are consoled with the thought that in due season we shall reach our eternal home, where there is fullness of joy for evermore!

This has been the state of all the saints from the beginning. They gloried in the thought that they were “seeking a better country,” which they would inhabit forever!

Hebrews 11:13 “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth!”

This representation is confirmed by actual experience.

“Our days on earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.” Behold the shadow of a cloud passing over the fields—how rapidly does it proceed! How speedily does it vanish, not leaving the slightest trace of it behind! Thus generations pass away, and “the places where they have lived know them no more.” “No one has found here any continuing city.” The antediluvians lived for eight or nine hundred years; yet they died at last. How short, then, is our continuance, now that the term of life is reduced to seventy or eighty years! Let the oldest of us look back:

Our life seems to have been but “a mere span.”

It has “declined as a shadow, Psalm 102:11.”

It has come to an end, “as a tale that is told, Psalm 90:9.”

It has been “as a vapor, that appears for a moment, and then vanishes away! James 4:14.”

Thus it has been with all, however great or however good. The kings of the earth, that have made all the world to stand in awe of them, have passed away; yes, and their very empires have vanished with them! Where are now the Assyrian, Babylonish, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires? They have been swallowed up, as it were, and lost; together with the monarchs by whom they were established.

In like manner, “the Prophets and Apostles—where are they?” They filled but an appointed time, and then were taken to their eternal rest. But, in truth, the very place where we are assembled gives us a convincing evidence, that, whether by choice or not, the same character pertains to every one of us: we are but pilgrims upon earth, hastening every moment to our destined home.

Let us, then, mark,

II. The conduct which the consideration of that future blessed state is calculated to inspire.

Frequently is the consideration of that future blessed state urged upon us, as a motive to that habit of mind which the state itself demands. “I beseech you, then, as strangers and pilgrims, 1 Peter 2:11.”

1. Be moderate in your regards for earthly things.

A man intent on reaching his destined home, would not think of making any place his final rest, because of its beautiful prospects or its comfortable accommodations. He would be pleased with them, and thankful for them as refreshments by the way; but he would not think of resting in them as his eternal portion. So must we look beyond these transient things, and rest in nothing short of our destined glorious home. To this effect is the counsel of the Apostle Paul, “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away! 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.” “Let your moderation, then, be known unto all men;” and “set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth!”

2. Be diligent in the prosecution of your journey heaven-ward.

You have no time to lose. Whether your stay in this wilderness is more or less protracted, you will find every hour short enough for the making of such a progress as will ensure a happy termination of your labors. You are not merely in a journey; but in a race, which requires the most strenuous and unremitted exertions! Whatever advance you may have made, you are to “forget what is behind, and to press forward to that which is ahead, so that you may attain the prize of your high calling.” Never are you to be weary of well-doing; for “then only will you reap, if you faint not.”

3. Avail yourselves of the helps which God has provided for you along the way.

To his people in the wilderness, God gave a daily supply of manna from the clouds, and of water from the rock that followed them. And similar provision has he made for us also, in our way to the promised land; and, in the strength of it, we may prosecute our journey without fear. If we are “strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might”—then what may we not undertake, with a full assurance of success? We need not draw back from any labor; for “the grace of Christ shall surely be sufficient for us!” Nor need we fear any enemy; for we shall be “more than conquerors, through Him who loved us!”

4. Keep your eye fixed on Heaven, as your eternal glorious home.

What would ever divert your steps, or retard them for an instant, if you contemplated as you ought, the blessedness that awaits you at the close of your short earthly journey? To be in your Father’s house, in the very mansion prepared for you; yes, and in the very bosom of that Savior, who went, as your forerunner, to prepare it: to have all your trials forever terminated, and all your dangers forever past, and all your labors forever ended; and to have nothing but an eternity of bliss, such as no words can express, no imagination can conceive. What joy will you feel in the retrospect, what exultation in the prospect, and, above all, what recollections as arising from the stupendous mystery of redemption, whereby the whole has been accomplished for you!

Set before you this prize; and then tell me whether you will ever need anything to carry you forward in your heavenly course. Truly, the contemplation of that eternal glory will swallow up everything else, even as the stars of Heaven are eclipsed by the meridian sun. Joys will be no joys, and sorrows no sorrows—I mean, not worth being so accounted; if only you keep Heaven in your view; for neither the comforts “nor the sufferings of this present life are worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us! Romans 8:18.”

Moses, Hebrews 11:24-26,

and Paul, Acts 20:24,

and all the saints, Hebrews 11:35,

yes, and even the Lord Jesus Christ himself, Hebrews 12:2—were animated by this thought; and, if it fully possesses your mind, you can never faint, nor ever come short of that glorious rest which remains for you! 2 Peter 1:10-11.

SAINTS PILGRIMS AND STRANGERS ON EARTH

1 Chronicles 29:15

“We are pilgrims and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.”

The more truly pious we are, the more shall we be clothed with humility. On no occasion had David evinced more exalted piety, than in his preparations for the building and furnishing the temple, which he was not permitted in his lifetime to erect. “He had prepared for it with all his might,” “because he had set his affection to the house of his, God verse 2, 3.” And what reflections did these efforts generate in his mind? Was he filled with self-delight? Did he assume any merit to himself? No! he gave to God the glory of all that had been done, acknowledging that the power to do it was the effect of God’s bounty, and the disposition to do it the fruit of his grace.

A more sublime ascription of praise will scarcely be found in all the Book of God, than that which he uttered on this occasion. He bore in mind, that, as his continuance here was but of short duration, itbefit him to exert himself with all possible zeal, while any opportunity to serve God remained. The expressions which he made use of in my test will lead me to show you,

I. The present state of believers as it is here represented.

Christians are but “strangers and pilgrims” upon earth.

This world is not our home. If we are saints indeed, then we are children of a heavenly Father; and Heaven itself is our true home. 1 Peter 1:3-4.

This world is but a wilderness through which we are passing to our Father’s house! We are mere pilgrims here. The people among whom we sojourn are governed by different laws, and speak a different language, and are strangers to us, even as we are to them.

We are only like travelers at an inn. If our accommodations are good, we are thankful for them; but we are not overly elated, because we regard them as merely momentary, and have our minds intent on far higher joys to come.

On the other hand, if our accommodations at our earthly inn are of a less comfortable nature, we feel no great disappointment. We consider that as connected to our state as pilgrims. We are consoled with the thought that in due season we shall reach our eternal home, where there is fullness of joy for evermore!

This has been the state of all the saints from the beginning. They gloried in the thought that they were “seeking a better country,” which they would inhabit forever!

Hebrews 11:13 “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth!”

This representation is confirmed by actual experience.

“Our days on earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.” Behold the shadow of a cloud passing over the fields—how rapidly does it proceed! How speedily does it vanish, not leaving the slightest trace of it behind! Thus generations pass away, and “the places where they have lived know them no more.” “No one has found here any continuing city.” The antediluvians lived for eight or nine hundred years; yet they died at last. How short, then, is our continuance, now that the term of life is reduced to seventy or eighty years! Let the oldest of us look back:

Our life seems to have been but “a mere span.”

It has “declined as a shadow, Psalm 102:11.”

It has come to an end, “as a tale that is told, Psalm 90:9.”

It has been “as a vapor, that appears for a moment, and then vanishes away! James 4:14.”

Thus it has been with all, however great or however good. The kings of the earth, that have made all the world to stand in awe of them, have passed away; yes, and their very empires have vanished with them! Where are now the Assyrian, Babylonish, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires? They have been swallowed up, as it were, and lost; together with the monarchs by whom they were established.

In like manner, “the Prophets and Apostles—where are they?” They filled but an appointed time, and then were taken to their eternal rest. But, in truth, the very place where we are assembled gives us a convincing evidence, that, whether by choice or not, the same character pertains to every one of us: we are but pilgrims upon earth, hastening every moment to our destined home.

Let us, then, mark,

II. The conduct which the consideration of that future blessed state is calculated to inspire.

Frequently is the consideration of that future blessed state urged upon us, as a motive to that habit of mind which the state itself demands. “I beseech you, then, as strangers and pilgrims, 1 Peter 2:11.”

1. Be moderate in your regards for earthly things.

A man intent on reaching his destined home, would not think of making any place his final rest, because of its beautiful prospects or its comfortable accommodations. He would be pleased with them, and thankful for them as refreshments by the way; but he would not think of resting in them as his eternal portion. So must we look beyond these transient things, and rest in nothing short of our destined glorious home. To this effect is the counsel of the Apostle Paul, “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away! 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.” “Let your moderation, then, be known unto all men;” and “set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth!”

2. Be diligent in the prosecution of your journey heaven-ward.

You have no time to lose. Whether your stay in this wilderness is more or less protracted, you will find every hour short enough for the making of such a progress as will ensure a happy termination of your labors. You are not merely in a journey; but in a race, which requires the most strenuous and unremitted exertions! Whatever advance you may have made, you are to “forget what is behind, and to press forward to that which is ahead, so that you may attain the prize of your high calling.” Never are you to be weary of well-doing; for “then only will you reap, if you faint not.”

3. Avail yourselves of the helps which God has provided for you along the way.

To his people in the wilderness, God gave a daily supply of manna from the clouds, and of water from the rock that followed them. And similar provision has he made for us also, in our way to the promised land; and, in the strength of it, we may prosecute our journey without fear. If we are “strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might”—then what may we not undertake, with a full assurance of success? We need not draw back from any labor; for “the grace of Christ shall surely be sufficient for us!” Nor need we fear any enemy; for we shall be “more than conquerors, through Him who loved us!”

4. Keep your eye fixed on Heaven, as your eternal glorious home.

What would ever divert your steps, or retard them for an instant, if you contemplated as you ought, the blessedness that awaits you at the close of your short earthly journey? To be in your Father’s house, in the very mansion prepared for you; yes, and in the very bosom of that Savior, who went, as your forerunner, to prepare it: to have all your trials forever terminated, and all your dangers forever past, and all your labors forever ended; and to have nothing but an eternity of bliss, such as no words can express, no imagination can conceive. What joy will you feel in the retrospect, what exultation in the prospect, and, above all, what recollections as arising from the stupendous mystery of redemption, whereby the whole has been accomplished for you!

Set before you this prize; and then tell me whether you will ever need anything to carry you forward in your heavenly course. Truly, the contemplation of that eternal glory will swallow up everything else, even as the stars of Heaven are eclipsed by the meridian sun. Joys will be no joys, and sorrows no sorrows—I mean, not worth being so accounted; if only you keep Heaven in your view; for neither the comforts “nor the sufferings of this present life are worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us! Romans 8:18.”

Moses, Hebrews 11:24-26,

and Paul, Acts 20:24,

and all the saints, Hebrews 11:35,

yes, and even the Lord Jesus Christ himself, Hebrews 12:2—were animated by this thought; and, if it fully possesses your mind, you can never faint, nor ever come short of that glorious rest which remains for you! 2 Peter 1:10-11.

Charles Simeon