Return to Index.

Travelers
June 18, 2011

In my hometown of El Paso are the first two of the Twelve Travelers, a series of statues depicting historically important people to the history of El Paso. One of these statues, named the Equestrian, is at the entrance of El Paso International Airport, and was designed to remember Spanish conquistador Don Juan de Onate. The men and women who traveled and became part of El Paso history remind me of our path as travelers as we embark and continue our journey of faith. Peter understood the transient nature of our life and that the purpose of our present physical journey has a spiritual destination in mind.

1 Peter 1:17-19
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Abraham was noted in the Epistle to the Hebrews to be a sojourner looking for the city of God.

Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

God even allowed for the bondage of Israel to Egypt so that his people could understand the concept of sojourning.

Acts 7:6-7
And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

When Israel came into possession of the promised land, they were to treat those traveling through their land with respect. They were not to treat them with disregard as they had been treated in Egypt.

Leviticus 19:33-34
And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

In the United States we think of traveling as that done for business or pleasure. We tend not to think of traveling with a spiritual result in mind. There is a spiritual destination that awaits us, and we must spiritually travel to arrive at this destination.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
Copyright and Legal Information
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information