Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12

When we read about the Exodus in the Old Testament, many Christians probably wonder “What does that have to do with me today”? One thing is we can learn from the Israelites about the Exodus, because as Christians in the world today, you are in a New Exodus. Notice how the Apostle Peter addresses the Church, “You as strangers and pilgrims” Some English translations say “as Foreigners and Exiles”

So what does the Apostle Peter mean by this? Well because as a Born Again Christian, you are set apart from the world in Christ. We are not like the world or even comfortable in this world. Many Christians today you can’t tell them apart from the world, and that’s a clear sign of the fruit they are producing, good or bad (Matthew 7) 

So going back to the Exodus story, just as the Israelites lived in Egypt and among the rule of Egypt, they were not part of Egypt, they didn’t identify or conform to the ways of Egypt, they were clearly set apart as Children of God. The Church needs to be clearly identified as apart from the world. As we are called pilgrims in this world, as we  continue to way for our Exodus into our Promised Land, the New Heavens and Earth (Revelation 21, Isaiah 65) This world today is not the promised land, this is our mission field as the Church

What happens when you become friends with the world? As the Apostle Peter says “Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” As Jesus said “What does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul?” (Mark 8:36) When you align yourself with the world, you open your flesh upon to the temptations and pleasures of this world, which war against your soul. 

Now with all this said, this doesn’t mean we all become monks and live in a cave, as Jesus said “My prayer is not to take them out of the world, but you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15) As the Church we have work to do, the Great Commision needs to be filled (Matthew 28:19) we are the salt and light (Matthew 5) We are called to live in this world in Christ but not be part of this world. This can be a difficult rope walk to take, but this is why we need the Church to support one another, and be led by the Holy Spirit in all things

We can be an example for the unsaved in this dark world, as Peter says here “May your good works, which they behold, glorify God” When the world looks at us they should be able to see we are Christians by our works, by our love, by being set apart in Jesus name Amen!