Living in Exile 

   Sometimes I feel as though I am an exile in a world that I do not understand, and which does not understand me.

   Then I am reminded of what my Lord said, “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.” (John 15: 18).  And it is true, the world hated Jesus when He walked this earth and continues to hate Him even today.  The world doesn’t understand a love such as He has; it is foreign to them.  They choose to hate what is different rather than consider that the different way might the be right way

   “For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” (1 Cor 1: 22 -24).  In the eyes of the world, a Jew hung on a cross to die could only be a tremendous failure.  How could one sentenced to the horror of crucifixion be the Messiah, the Son of God?  They can’t grasp what Christians know; that by His life, death, and resurrection He overcame death, redeemed us from our sins and offers eternal life to all who will believe.

   Today, the world still looks for signs, but refuses to see miracles.  They can’t reconcile His truth with what the world considers wisdom.  They scoff at those who believe and persecute them for their faith, looking upon them as religious fanatics or fools.

   This world is a place of exile to those who believe.  We do not belong to this world but to God.  Yes, the world hates us, we challenge them to give up the desires of this world and accept the promise of eternal life.  The world refuses to accept what we know to be true, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life. (John 3: 16).