What do you think aliens look like?
When we place our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven of our sins, our debt is paid, and we become “citizens of heaven.” According to scripture we become “aliens” or “sojourners” in this world.
1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.
When we think of aliens we usually think of strange looking creatures that are a mixed-match set of seemingly random characteristics that typically go against the norm. As “aliens of this world” that should in a lot of ways be the description of us. We should go against the norm of the culture we live in.
What should we look like, as “aliens” of this world?
When Jesus sent the disciples out into the world to minister to people (just like we have been sent to do), he described them (and also applies to us now) using a seemingly random set of characteristics, but when we look closer, each has a uniquely specific purpose.
Matt 10:16 "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Sheep - How should we be like a sheep?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
I have three kids who are within six months in age of each other (long story). When they were babies, my husband and I could tell which one was crying simply by the sound of their voices. We knew them. Scripture says that as followers of Christ, Jesus is our Shepherd and we hear his voice. He knows us and we follow him. There are a lot of voices telling us a lot of things in our culture today. We must listen closely for the sound of our Shepherd’s voice. Every step we take should be at the guidance of our Shepherd. He knows the Way we should go. He knows each of us as unique individuals and He has a special purpose and path in store for us.
Serpent- How should we be like a serpent?
James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Serpents are usually portrayed as evil creatures. Generally speaking, they aren’t seen as having many positive qualities. However, in Matthew 10 Jesus tells his disciples to be wise as a serpent. Wisdom is more than knowledge. Knowledge KNOWS what is right, but wisdom is acting upon what is right. James teaches us that we can get true wisdom from God. Without God’s wisdom, we will be left wandering a crooked path through life following wrong turns after wrong turns. God’s desire is to give us the wisdom to know the Truth and equip us to act upon that wisdom in the choices we make.
Doves - How should we be like a dove?
2 Tim 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
We are to be wise, knowing and acting upon the truth. We are to speak the truth to others, but we are called to do so as a dove with kindness and gentleness. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is also kind, patient, and gentle. The goal is that people may be “granted repentance,” that they may, “come to their senses.” People do not often respond positively to the truth of their sin by way of condemnation and condescension. It is grace that draws us to repentance. So, we speak the truth in order to let people know the need for grace, but we do so with a heart of gentleness knowing it is only by that same grace that we ourselves experience repentance.
Wolves- What is a wolf?
Acts 20:28-32 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
The enemy is still in the business of distracting and drawing people away from sharing the redemption story of the gospel. He will use every deceit and treachery strategy to do it. We as a church must pay careful attention to ourselves and each other. We must be alert to his schemes. We must know the truth so that we are not taken down by Satan’s twisting of that truth. Biblical illiteracy is not an option if we wish to win the battle for the souls of the people we love.
Aliens are Strange Creatures
As a citizen of Heaven, this world is not our home. We shouldn’t fit in with the culture around us. There should be noticeable “cultural differences” in us as believers. We should experience “culture shock” everytime we walk out of our homes and our churches because the world we live in is so different from the home we come from. Aliens look different, act different, sound different, and so should we. Being a Sheep/Serpent/Dove… a “SheePentOve” is HARD. We sometimes lean too much towards one or the other… We are too much serpent or too much dove, but we have to allow God to work in us to have the characteristics of all, because just like the disciples were, we also are being sent out, “in the midst of wolves.”
We should:
Be like a sheep - Listening to the Shepherd’s voice.
Be like a serpent - wise; knowing and acting upon the wisdom of God
Be like a dove - Speak and live out Truth, but do it as kindly and gently as you can.
Pray that God would help you be the alien, the “SheePentOve” He is calling you to be. Just as aliens invade a world that is not their own to bring others back home with them, we should do the same. We invade this world in order to call others to come home to Jesus with us. We can only do that if we live like the aliens we are.
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