Terrorists, Tourists and Soldiers – Aliens and Strangers Traveling in This World

Terrorist Warning Issued for Tourists Traveling Outside the Country.

That was the headline today.

It made me think.

Christians always travel outside the country – outside our homeland, that is.

As citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, we know the borders of our homeland are secure. But, we are not home. We dwell in this world as nomads, outside our permanent home.

Here, we are at risk. We are targets of spiritual terrorism.

Simply by virtue of the fact of our citizenship, the enemy hates us and has us in its sight.

But, we have choices.

Outside the kingdom of Heaven, we can travel as tourists or as soldiers in this war.

Tourists are easy prey for terrorists.

They are often isolated from others from their homeland and out of touch with home. They generally travel unarmed. Their defenses are down. They are easily distracted, gullible and frequently lacking in an awareness of the culture in which they travel.

Tourists are attractive to terrorists as targets for destruction and as hostages.

Soldiers are also far from home but they are not such easy targets.

First of all, they arrive armed and aware of the danger with a mission and a team. They operate with others and maintain regular contact with home. Second, they are aware of the culture in which they operate, they respect the potential for danger and they never let their guard down until they return home. Also, they are disciplined and have received training which they maintain even when outside the country.

Soldiers are not only challenging targets, they are instruments at work to protect tourists and to further the work of the kingdom wherever they are.

What kind of citizen of heaven are you through this brief expedition on earth? Are you a tourist or a soldier?

Until we are home, we will be in a land at war.

Terrorist Warning Issued for Tourists Traveling Outside the Country.

This could almost be the sub-title for the Bible.

“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” I Peter 2:10-12 NIV