Strangers in exile

“Every godly man has his heart in heaven; his affections are mainly set on what is to be obtained there. He focuses on heaven as a traveler who is in a distant land focuses on his own country. The traveler can content himself to be in a strange land for a while, but he prefers his own native land over all others.”

“The main reason why the godly man has his heart in heaven is because God is there. It is the place where God is gloriously present, where His love is gloriously manifested, where the godly may be with Him, see Him as He is, and love, serve, praise, and enjoy Him perfectly. The believer’s heart is in heaven because his treasure is there.[1]”

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[1] Edwards, Jonathan, The Best of Jonathan Edwards, pg. 37, Cook Communication Ministries, Colorado Springs, Co.

Strangers in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you no longer love the world, or love what the world loves.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only ... pride in our achievements and possessions ... 1 John 2:15, 16 NLT

When the woman saw that the tree was ... desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate. Gen. 3:6 NASB


Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Matt. 4:8, 9 NASB



I do not receive glory from men. John 5:41 NASB
Nor did we seek glory from men. 2 Thess. 3:6 NASB

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. 1 Cor. 4:5 NASB

Strangers in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you no longer love the world, or love what the world loves.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only ... a craving for everything we see ... 1 John 2:15, 16 NLT

When the woman saw that the tree was ... a delight to the eyes ... Gen. 3:6 NASB

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Matt. 4:8 NASB

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:17 NASB

Strangers in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you no longer love the world, or love what the world loves.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure ... 1 John 2:15, 16 NLT

When the woman saw the tree was good for food ... Gen 3:6 NASB

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” Matt. 4:1-3 NLT

Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 1 Peter 2:11 NLT



Live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficeint for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursused a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 1 Peter 2:2-3 NASB

Strangers in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

the thought of death warms your heart with anticipation.

For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. NASB
For me, to live is Christ and to die is more Christ! Brother Mark's paraphrase

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Phil. 1:21-24 NLT

Strangers in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you know that you’re never going to be satisfied with anything less than perfect happiness.

“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’” Rev. 21:3, 4 NLT

Strangers in exile

You realize that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

the amount you give is greater than the amount your save.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt. 6:19-21 NASB

Strangers in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you come to the point where you are unwilling to accept glory from anyone but God.

"I do not receive glory from men." John 5:41 NASB
"Nor did we seek glory from men." 2 Thess. 3:6 NASB
"Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God." 1 Cor. 4:5 NASB
"For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Cor. 4:17, 18 New Living bible

Strangers in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you no longer think the way people in the world do because your mind has been renewed.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2 NIV

Strangers in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you realize that you can never be satisfied by anything that isn't permanent.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." Rev. 21:1, 2 New Living Bible

Stranger in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you realize that you can never be satisfied with any form of government except for the actual, physical rule of Jesus Christ the King.

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth." Phil. 2:10 NKJV
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20 NKJV

Strangers in exile

You discover that you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you realize that you can never truly be at home anyplace that tolerates sin.

"Hate what is evil." NIV
"Abhor what is evil." NASB
"Hate what is wrong." New Living Bible
"Hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness]." Amplified Bible
"Run for dear life from evil." The Message
Romans 12:9

Strangers in exile

You realize you are a stranger living in exile when ...

you decide that you don't really belong here any more.

"All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth . . . they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13, 16 NASB