“Blessed are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage. Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength. Every one of them appears before God in Zion.” (Psalms 84:5-7)
This verse speaks of those who take the trouble to travel to the Temple at Mount Zion and how they are blessed. In Bible days the people of Israel were called to Mount Zion every year to celebrate Religious Festivals. It meant that they had to leave their home and their jobs and travel all they way to Jerusalem from the 4 corners of Israel and beyond. We see in Luke chapter 2 that Jesus went there as a child with His family for the Passover. On another occasion we read of Philip the evangelist meeting up with an African Eunuch who had come all the way from Africa to worship at the Temple in Zion after a religious festival. God honoured those who took the time to go on these Pilgrim journeys back then and He still does today.
To be ‘blessed’ means to be envied. In these materialistic days we envy famous people who have lots of money and fame. When we look at Pop Stars we think they have enchanted lives with all their money and popularity. To us they are ‘blessed, far from trouble and strife, but the opposite is true. Just look at their personal lives, with many of them divorcing time and again and problems with substance abuse. These famous people’s hearts are not set on pilgrimage at all, for they put all their wealth into this life, buying bigger and better houses, boats and cars. Their lives revolve around clothes, looks and all the sparkling things of this life. This is not the life of a pilgrim.
God’s word says that blessed and to be envied are those whose hearts are set on pilgrimage, those whose desire is to be in God’s House both here on earth and one day in heaven. These people have the ability to transform situations and turn them around, changing dry valleys into pools of water. “Passing through the valley of Weeping, they making them into a place of springs.” God blesses those who realise that they are just passing through in this life.
“All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.” (Living Bible) Hebrews 11:13-16
These people are seeking another city beyond this life and they know that this earth is not their permanent home. True believers live in God’s presence now, which is also called Zion and long to be with Him forever.
“No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of angels in joyful assembly. 23You have come to the Assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect.” Hebrews 12:22-23
We are to set our sites on heaven and not make this earth our home, for we are strangers and pilgrims in the earth.
The bible records the tragic story of Lot and his family who set his eyes on the city of Sodom and forsook the pilgrim life that he had with Abraham. Abraham ended up blessed while Lot in disaster.
“Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose that land for himself--the Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So while Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom, among the cities of the plain.” Genesis 13:8-12.
Lot left Mesopotamia with Abram but he got tired of being a Pilgrim like his uncle. He wanted to live in a permanent city and not in tents, so he forsook the Pilgrim way and settled into the life of Sodom. Abram however stayed in a tent and moved onto ‘Mamre.’ Mamre means life and vigour. The pilgrim way caused him to be strong while Lot ended up losing everything in Sodom including all his family.
Pilgrims go from ‘strength to strength.” God wants you to be a Pilgrim and not settle down for this life. This earth is not your real home and you can’t take anything with you when you go – except souls. We need to invest in heaven by being those who give of our lives. Those who give shall be given back too and can turn sadness into joy. Pilgrims can make other people’s lives better here on earth. They can be a blessing for they have the time and the desire to bless others. We need to be those who invest in others and in so doing invest in heaven.
"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.
"So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:9-21 31-33.
Pilgrims can really enjoy life for they aren’t bogged down with all its affairs. They are excited about what they see and hear from heaven and and it makes them vibrant and fresh. They are free to smell the roses so to speak as they pass through this life. They are ‘Praisers’ who are enjoying their God, their life and their families.
So often we forget that our mission here on earth is to be a pilgrim who is just passing through. So many virtually kill for the things of this life. They hurt others by not forgiving those who upset them and neglect their relationship with God. They don’t value the things of heaven, by just living for today.
Jacob and Esau are a good example of this. Esau wanted a quick fix and sold his birthright for a bowl of mince. Jacob saw the value of this heavenly blessing while Esau didn’t. Jacob managed to get him to easily sell him his birthright. What you don’t value you will eventually lose.
As I said earlier you go from strength to strength when you have a pilgrim heart. This happens because you are looking to Jesus and heaven which is like Mamre, full of life and vigour. This world is unclean and dying so put your time and energy into the things of God. Decide to be a pilgrim who is just passing through.