“I am a stranger with You” (Psalms 39:12)  

In this Psalm, King David longs for Heaven and says, “Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days ... I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were” (Psalms 39:4-12). This reminds us of the New Testament “Hall of Faith” of saints who looked forward to “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God ... they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:10-16). 

 Saints who walk with Christ are pilgrims with Him. “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:10-11). We don’t belong here either. “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come” (Hebrews 13:14). 

 “Lord, I don’t want to be a citizen where you’re not welcome. Your blood broke the chains that bound me to Satan’s world (2 Corinthians 4:4). My ways are Your ways, my will is your will, and my love is for Your Kingdom. There’s sweet fellowship in sharing persecution for Your Name” (Matthew 5:10). “I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord ... that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:8-11). 

 "To me remains nor place, nor time: My country is in every clime; I can be calm and free from care On any shore, since God is there. While place we seek, or place we shun, The soul finds happiness in none: But with a God to guide our way, 'Tis equal joy to go or stay."