Is That An Alien?

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers

in the world, to abstain from sinful desires,

which war against your soul.”

I Peter 2:11 (NIV)

 “Light Beam on Mars Proof of Alien Life?” the article headlined this week, accompanied by a video supposedly showing a shaft of light coming from the planet’s surface.

Immediately the staunch supporters of alien life forms championed their cause and the equally strong opponents challenged every theory that was proposed concerning the light beam and aliens. And so it begins again.

It seems like we who watch from the sidelines are periodically bombarded by photos from 50 years ago to the present, touted as “absolute proof” of aliens here on earth while scoffers explain away each sighting as fake.

There seems to be a huge fascination with the idea that aliens might be living among us and we aren’t aware of their presence. We are even treated occasionally to television shows and movies that feature a community of extraterrestrials living on earth.

Can I let you in on a secret? There ARE aliens living here on earth. They are called Christ followers . . . Christians. Read today’s Scripture from I Peter 2:11 as Peter cautions us “as aliens and strangers in the world” to remember who we are and the war that we are fighting every day against “sinful desires” which battle to capture our souls. But why warn us in this way?

Peter understood the tendency for Christians to want to belong and fit in with people in the world around them. It’s an easy thing to do, isn’t it.  We hear the old saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans.” In other words, do what you need to do to fit in, no matter where you are or who you are with at the moment.  But that is completely opposite of what the Lord wants us to do!

Have you ever traveled to another country where you did not speak the language or understand the customs? While it can be scary, we are urged – not encouraged – but urged by Peter to live every day as if we were in that foreign country and absolutely did not fit in.

For example, we should be speaking love and forgiveness when those around us are peddling hate and revenge. When the world is promoting wealth no matter the cost, we should be sharing the cost of the Cross with our neighbors.

While the media is glorifying the powerful as gods, we must be focusing on the One True God and sharing Him with the lost living in this foreign land. We must be very aware of anything that is in conflict with the Word and counter with truth from Jesus.

This is a temporary home for us, my friends. We truly must be aliens and strangers, passing through to our eternal home. I urge you today to live your life in such a way that people will look at you and say “There is absolute proof that aliens do live here on earth. They are called Christians.”

Father, I pray that I will be able to stand strong every day as I share with those around me that you are the only way to eternal life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever been tempted to do whatever you needed to do to fit in with the crowd?

• Did your decision make it clear that you were a Christian? Why or why not?

Application

• Journal situations that you are considering being a part of in your life.

• Beneath each one, write “alien” or “earthly” and back up your decisions with Scripture.

Power Verse

• I Peter 2:11 (NIV) “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”

• I Chronicles 29:15 (NIV) “We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers.”

• Matthew 10:22 (NIV) “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”