Living as Sojourners

1 Chronicles 29 (ESV) finds David praying to God. At one point, David says,

We are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.

Some modern Bible versions translate "sojourners" as "foreigners" or "visitors." The idea is that, as believers, we first-and-foremost belong to a heavenly community. One day, we'll be in the presence of that community. But until that time, we reside on earth as sojourners.

While we reside here as sojourners, we must avoid what Charles Stanley refers to as the Three Enemies: (1) the desires of this world, (2) the desires of our flesh, and (3) the devil. Those three earthly enemies try to draw us into chasing earthly pursuits. But God wants us to focus on heavenly matters, not earthly ones.

So as we pray, let us focus on our role as sojourners, and let us train our minds to pursue heavenly treasures.