Alien

 

    Alien in Hebrew is zar (זָר).  It means stranger, foreigner, or outsider.  In Greek it is allodapós ( αλλοδαπός).  In Greek it stands for foreigner.  The Bible uses the word ger which is another Hebrew word that appears 22 times.  The English word alien comes from the Latin word alienus for foreigner.  Basically it was someone who was not your family.

    One evening when Abram went to bed a terrifying darkness set in.  God spoke to him saying that his people would be aliens in a land where they would be oppressed for 400 years.  God wanted to comfort Abram by also saying the oppressors would be punished and his people would have great wealth.  Then God told him that he would die at an old age in peace.  After four generations, his people would return to that spot.  Even God's people are aliens.  They had no home for many years and had to fight for it.

    Moses was an alien when he met and married his wife.  Her father took him in and gave him a home and name.  He began a family.  He was an alien, but he was settling well in a new life.  He would have probably stayed there the rest of his life had God said no, you have a bigger purpose in this life and sent him back to his people.

    God gave his people a lot of laws on how to live.  Most were to be clean.  Some may feel over the top, but they all served a purpose to keep people clean, healthy, and close to God.  For an example we are not to eat anything that has died a natural death.  It died for a reason and if you ate it, then you could die from the same thing.  You can give or sale to the aliens that live among you because they may not live by the same standards.

     Aliens are normally tiny groups in a foreign place.  They wonder around trying to find their home.  Do not touch them.  Do not allow them to influence your holy lifestyle.  Do not oppress them, but do not let them oppress you either.  

    The people that are aliens from God are considered evil.  Do not let them influence you away from God.  Do not allow them to fool you into becoming a wicked person.  If you have been a fool, then turn from your evil ways back to God.  Only then will God show you mercy.  The title Christian holds no power.  It is your relationship with God that holds the power.  Do not exploit aliens, orphans, or widows.  Do not murder or worship idols.  It only harms yourself.  If you ignore God's warning, then you will deal with His judgment.

   Gentiles were aliens until they became followers of Jesus.  They lived apart from Christ and were already under God's judgment.  Everyone who does not follow Jesus is alien to God.  You do not have citizenship in Heaven.  You can't buy, bribe, or sneak in.  You have to be a citizen to enter Heaven.  Once you become a real Christian, then you become a citizen through the blood of Jesus.  Leave the aliens alone because they already live under God's judgment.  They can't take your peace.

    Living by faith enables you to do supernatural things to save people, justice, and live by God's promises.  It turns weakness into strength.  As you battle aliens that do not understand, remember so you do not lose heart.  Place your hope in what aliens can't take from you: eternity in Heaven.  

Genesis 15:12-16, Exodus 2:21-22, Deuteronomy 14:21, Psalm 105:12-15, Jeremiah 7:1-6, Ephesians 2:11-13, & Hebrew 11:32-35