From the

Pastor Michael A. Johnson

The Pilgrim Life

History revisionists have worked feverishly to erase any sign of God’s presence or evidence of godly people from our country’s past.  But history is history and a revision of such is merely fiction.  Our thanksgiving is a glimmering remnant of those pilgrims who came before and passed on to us their token example of thankfulness toward the Almighty for His ever-abiding faithfulness.

An exemplary pattern is also seen in another set of pilgrims whose record remains in God’s history book.  Hebrews 11:13 says “These all died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”  We too are called to live by faith and trust God in uncertain times such as we now live.  Consider what these endured and how it may apply in our day.

God did not provide advance answers.
Abraham was expected to simply trust God and obey.  That’s what he did!  If we are not willing to trust and obey without knowing what lies ahead, we are not really following Him… We are trying to find our own way!

Obedience to God automatically meant living the pilgrim life—not as permanent residents.
Peter later calls us “strangers and pilgrims” and exhorts us to abstain from fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11).  This old world beckons us to surrender to its appeal.  We must say “NO!”  Life as a pilgrim is only possible by fixing our eyes on another world.  Abraham was able to sojourn in the land and remain faithful because he sought a city with foundations, whose builder and maker was God.

We should act as sojourners and pilgrims:

1.       Don’t regard this old world as home.

2.       Don’t build your treasures here.

3.       Don’t allow attachments that would hinder a quick departure to your real home.

4.       Set your affections on things above!

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As always it is our desire to be a light for holiness in an age of compromise and backsliding.  God has been faithful to our church family from our meager beginnings to what is now our Miracle on Main Street.

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