Based on the relationships I've had throughout my life, I believe everyone feels, to some degree, out of place.

     Maybe you have been disillusioned by the lack of justice or suffering on this planet. Maybe you've had feelings of insecurity. When I say maybe, I mean 99.9999% probable. In any case, this world doesn't seem like home.

    As Christians, we definitely are foreigners, aliens to this world. For the unbeliever, based on what I felt in my younger years, I still believe there is a voice calling you out of this immoral world, to the Kingdom of God. 

'Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.' - 1st John 2:15-17

    Twenty three years ago as a new Christian, I believed that I could live in and love both worlds. I believed that I could still amass wealth, enjoy a comfortable life and still keep the other foot in the Kingdom, assuring me of eternal life. While I'm not saying that Christians should live in poverty, I no longer believe that earthly wealth should even be on our radar, among our goals. Just as the Hebrews were exiled to Babylon, we are children of the King in a world that does not know Him. The Hebrews were told to make homes and gardens in Babylon, but they were also told that they would one day return to Israel.

'He has sent this message to us in Babylon: It will be a long time. Therefore build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”' - Jeremiah 29:28

'Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you are now fearing; do not be afraid of him,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hand. I will also show you compassion, so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your own soil.' - Jeremiah 42:11-12

'I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me' - John 14:30

'Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.' - Matt 10:28

    In other words, it's OK to make a living here, don't fear its ruler (Satan), but don't get attached.

    With regards to the last verse about the fear of man, I am proud of a certain student who recently raised his hand in solitude, when asked if he believed that a supernatural power was responsible for creating life, in his college biology class. According to his professor, it was the wrong answer and he lost points, but I'm still wondering why the question was asked and answered in a public manner. Regardless, John raised his hand alone, after the rest of the class sheepishly agreed that the origin of life was an accident.