ALIENS AMONG US

by: carole l. haines

To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. (1 Peter 1 NASB)

To those who reside as aliens, hmmmmm?  I don’t have gray skin, huge black eyes, a chalky veneer, or six fingers on each hand, but I am an alien.  Let me clarify.  As Believers in Jesus Christ, we no longer belong to this world.  We are aliens, or better said, strangers in this land.  Our hearts have been rescued out of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of His Beloved Son (Col. 1:13).  We shouldn’t feel so at home here in this world anymore.  It’s wonderful to feel like we don’t belong anymore, because we don’t.  That’s why we need each other so much.  Ever noticed that there are little communities of like-cultured people, located within Large cities.  The City I live near has a Chinatown, a Little Italy, etc.  We have wonderful festivals like, The Greek Festival or The Polish Festival.  I love this about where I live.  I can experience such diversity.  People are more at ease with those who understand them, accept them as they are, and embrace them as a part of their family or community. The Body of Christ is one such community, and we need each other in the Body of Christ.

Scattered throughout, now this is God’s strategy for reaching the world.  If we all stayed in our little, safe communities, how could we reach the world?  God disperses us often, while still gathering us together to fellowship and care for one another.  We are transplants from the Kingdom of God wherever we live. We are right in the middle of those we are to be reaching out to, and sharing the good news with.  How can we find ways to do this?  Pray and ask God to show us how and where He is working in the communities we live in, and join Him in His work. This is just one of the 7 spiritual realities we are learning about as we go through the Bible Study EXPERIENCING GOD, by Henry Blackaby. I highly recommend it.

So no, I don’t have 6 fingers or a chalky veneer, but I do reside in my community for a Divine Purpose.  God has placed our family here for a work that He is doing.  We are a tiny light, that shines in a dark place, to point to a loving God and Savior, who is still reaching out to the world He created, desiring to redeem them.   And yes!  I am weird for a purpose, strangely placed, yet strategically. I am one of the ALIENS AMONG US movement, and I praise God for the privilege.