It is so good for me to come back here again to meet my dear friends from many different foreign countries and to worship God together with you. Four years ago I was here and delivered a message. Three years ago I was here and delivered a message. Two years ago I was here and delivered a message. Last year I was here and delivered a message. Today I am here again and going to deliver a message entitled as ¡°The life as aliens and strangers.¡± It is because pastor Gloria (Young Ae) Kim asked me to deliver a message about ¡°the life as aliens and strangers.¡±

The Bible describes the believers as ¡°aliens and strangers on earth.¡± All of the forefathers of faith in the Old Testament lived as ¡°aliens and strangers on earth.¡± ¡°All these people were living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.¡±(Heb 11:13). Abraham our forefather of faith said "I am an alien and stranger among you."(Gen 23:4). Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses they all lived as aliens and strangers on earth. Moses left his family and home land when he was a small baby and lived in Egypt as an alien and stranger for 40 years. He left Egypt and fled to the desert of Midian and lived there as an alien and stranger for 40 years. Moses lived the last 40 years as an alien and stranger in the desert of Sinai after exodus. Moses exhorted the people of Israel as the following. ¡°Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years.¡±(Deut 8:2).

The apostle Peter described the New Testament believers as ¡°aliens and strangers on earth.¡± ¡°I urge you, as aliens and strangers on earth, to abstain from sinful desires.¡±(I Peter 2:11). Jesus the Son of God came to the world and lived as an alien and stranger on earth. There was no place for him to be born, no place to sleep, no place to live and no place to die. Jesus said as the following. "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."(Matt 8:22). Jesus exhorted his disciples to leave homes and families and live lives as aliens and strangers on earth. ¡°And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.¡±(Matt 19:29). All of the disciples of Jesus left homes and families and lived as aliens and strangers on earth.  

My dear friends from many different foreign countries! You are now living as aliens and strangers in Korea. I have lived my whole life as an alien and stranger on earth. I left North Korea and came to South Korea when I was a small boy. I left my mother and father when I was 11 years old. I crossed the border line at night and came to South Korea and became an orphan. Since then I have lived my whole life as an alien and stranger on earth. I have lived a lonely sorrowful and difficult life as an orphan. The only reason of my leaving North Korean was to gain the freedom of Sunday observance and to gain the freedom of worshipping God faithfully. The lonely sorrowful and difficult experiences of life as an alien and stranger on earth have, however, become very useful and very precious to me. I came to say as the following. ¡°The lonely sorrowful and difficult experiences of life as an alien and stranger on earth have become jewel to me.¡± Why does such lonely sorrowful difficult experience of life become useful and precious jewel? It is because God loves aliens and strangers on earth. Deut. 10: 18 reads as the following. "He loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." Now I am going to describe the five characteristics of the life as aliens and strangers on earth. What are the characteristics of the life as aliens and strangers on earth?



The first characteristic of the life as aliens and strangers on earth is leaving home country and going somewhere and facing lonely sorrowful and difficult experiences of life. Jesus¡¯ life as an alien and stranger on earth was leaving the glorious heavenly home and coming to the earth and facing lonely sorrowful and difficult experiences. Jesus came to the poor manger in Bethlehem as a helpless babe. The baby Jesus went to Egypt as a refugee. He came back to Israel and lived in a poor house of a carpenter in Nazareth. When Jesus grew up he went to the desert, Galilee, the mountain, Capernaum, the sea side, Gadarenes, Samaria, Jerusalem, Jericho and so on. Matthew described as the following. ¡°Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.¡±(Matt. 9:35). The disciples of Jesus all left their homes and went somewhere. There were many difficulties of poverty, sorrow, pain and suffering waiting for them.

The Bible describes many difficulties of suffering which Jesus faced as the following. ¡°He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.¡±(Isaiah 53:3,4). The apostle Paul also describes many difficulties of suffering which he faced as the following. ¡°I have been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.¡±(2 Cor. 11:23-27). The first characteristic of the life as aliens and strangers on earth is leaving home country and going somewhere and facing lonely sorrowful and difficult experiences of life.



The second characteristic of the life as aliens and strangers on earth is meeting God and meeting peoples. What is most needed for the lonely strangers is meeting. Jesus¡¯ life as an alien and stranger on earth was meeting God and meeting peoples. Jesus¡¯ life was the life of continuous praying to God. ¡°After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.¡±(Matt. 14:23). ¡°Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.¡±(Luke 6:12). ¡°Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went to a solitary place, where he prayed.¡±(Mark 1:35). ¡°He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.¡±(Luke 22:41,44). What was most needed for the Messiah who was despised and rejected alien and stranger on earth was meeting God through earnest prayers. The characteristic of Jesus¡¯ life was continuous praying and continuous meeting God. The characteristic of Jesus¡¯ life was also continuous meeting various kinds of peoples. Jesus went to Sychar, Samaria order to meet a sinful Samaritan woman. Jesus went to Jericho in order to meet a sinful chief tax collector Zacchaeus. After resurrection Jesus went to the Sea of Tiberias in order to meet the disobedient disciples including Peter who denied Jesus

The characteristics of the life of Jesus¡¯ disciples and faithful believers were also meeting God and meeting peoples. They continued to pray. ¡°When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. a group numbering about a hundred and twenty.¡±(Acts 1:13-15). ¡°They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.¡±(Acts 2:42). ¡°So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."(Acts 6:2-4). The characteristics of the life of Jesus¡¯ disciples and faithful believers were also meeting peoples. They went to various kinds of places in order to meet various kinds of people and preach the gospel. ¡°Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.¡±(Acts 8:4,5). ¡°Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.¡±(Acts 8:40). ¡°Now those who had been scattered by the persecution traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.¡±(Acts 11:19,20).  

The meaningful life for the aliens and strangers on earth is meeting God and meeting peoples. When aliens and strangers meet God and meet other peoples their lives are changed. And the peoples¡¯ lives¡¯ are also changed. The Bible is, in a sense, a story book of meeting God and meeting peoples. Now you, my dear foreign friends, live as aliens and strangers in Korea. Here in Korea you have come to meet God more intimately and have come to meet many kinds of peoples more closely. It is very meaningful and blessed to meet God intimately and to meet peoples closely. Since I left North Korea and came to South Korea I have come to meet God more intimately and have come to meet peoples more closely. Gradually I have learned that meeting God and meeting peoples are most important and most meaningful for the aliens and strangers on earth. I have really enjoyed meeting various kinds of peoples. Now I even enjoy meeting Communist peoples and Muslim peoples. The meaningful life is the life of meeting. Salvation is meeting. Evangelism is meeting. Pastoral ministry is meeting. Mission is meeting. Happiness is meeting. Meeting is sometimes difficult and troublesome but it is really meaningful and blessed. It is much needed for us to extend and deepen our meetings.



The third characteristic of the life as aliens and strangers on earth is sharing. In order to have a meaningful meeting there should be sharing. Jesus¡¯ life was the life of sharing. Jesus shared sorrow as well as joy. Jesus shared pain as well as peace. Jesus shared flesh as well as blood. Jesus shared life as well as death. Jesus even shared our sinfulness. It is really amazing. How could Jesus have shared our human sinfulness? Roman 8:3 describes the amazing truth as the following. ¡°God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.¡±(Rom 8:3). Jesus even shared all kinds of sinful judgments. He became poor, hungry, despised, rejected and even killed. The disciples and the faithful followers of Jesus lived the lives of sharing with other people. The lives of the Jerusalem church believers were the lives of sharing. They shared the needy things with others. Dorgas shared robes and other clothing with poor widows. Cornelius shared food and the needy things with poor people in Caesarea. Jesus stressed the importance of sharing telling the story about a Samaritan man who helped a traveler who was attacked, beaten and almost dead. Jesus said as the following. ¡°But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. Go and do likewise."(Luke 10:33,34,). Such lives of sharing become joy not only to the sharers and receivers but also to God. The life of sharing of the good Samaritan, the life of sharing of Dorgas, and the life of sharing of Cornelius were all pleasing to God and impressed Him. I have learned that one of the most meaningful and happy life is the life of sharing. It is because we are all lonely aliens and strangers on earth. It is because we are all experiencing lonely sorrowful and difficult problems. I have tried to share love with many suffering peoples in Africa, North Korea, Bangladesh, China, and Afghanistan. I have experienced joy and happiness when I have extended my hands of sharing. A real meaningful and happy life is the life of sharing sorrows, pains, and love. It is needed for us to extend our sharing with other peoples. .



The fourth characteristic of the life as aliens and strangers on earth is giving up and sacrificing. The life of Jesus was the life of giving up and sacrificing his life. Jesus said as the following. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.¡±(John 10:11). Mark indicated that Jesus came to give his life as a ransom. ¡°For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."(Mark 10:45). The apostle John also indicated that Jesus laid down his life for us and we should lay down our lives for our brothers. ¡°Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.¡±(I John 3:16). The apostle Paul exhorted us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. ¡°Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.¡±(Rom 12:1).  

The Bible tells us that many of the faithful believers gave up and sacrificed their lives as sacrifices. It was because they all knew that the earthly life was the temporary life and the heavenly life would be eternal. Moses confessed that the earthly life was like grass quickly passing away. ¡°They are like the new grass of the morning they quickly pass, and we fly away.¡±(Ps 90:5,10). David confessed that the earthly life was nothing, a breath, mere phantom and vain. ¡°The span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain.¡±(Ps 39:5,6). Stephen of the Jerusalem church, the apostle Paul and the apostle John all knew that the earthly life was a mere phantom and they were all eagerly looking up to heaven and were willing to offer their lives as living sacrifices to God. When Stephen was opposed and stoned by the opponents of the gospel he was not worried about his life but just looking up to heaven and praising God with joy and thanksgiving. ¡°But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."(Acts 7:55,56). The apostle Paul and the apostle John were always looking up towards heaven and were willing to offer their lives as living sacrifices to God.  



The fifth characteristic of the life as aliens and strangers on earth is rejoicing and thanksgiving. Most of the forefathers of faith who lived faithful and sacrificial lives as aliens and strangers on earth were rejoicing. Jesus was rejoicing. ¡°At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.¡±(Luke 10:21). Jesus told his disciple to rejoice even though they did face many difficulties of persecutions. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.¡±(Matt 5:11,12). Accordingly the disciples of Jesus were rejoicing when they were arrested and beaten. ¡°They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.¡±(Acts 5:40,41). The apostle Paul confessed that he was rejoicing even in tribulations. ¡°We rejoice in tribulations.¡±(Rom 5:3). The apostle Paul was rejoicing greatly when he was arrested in the Roman prison. In the Roman prison he wrote the most precious epistle ¡°the Philippians.¡± In four chapters of the Philippians the apostle Paul used the word ¡®joy¡¯ or ¡®rejoice¡¯ seventeen times. ¡°I always pray with joy¡±(1:4). ¡°Because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice¡±(1:18). ¡°Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!¡±(4:4). ¡°I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me¡±(4:10).  

One of the precious and valuable gifts God provides to the faithful believers living as aliens and strangers on earth is joy and happiness. Jesus was proving peace and joy to the faithful disciples as the following. ¡°Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.¡±(John 14:27). ¡°I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.¡±(John 15:11). David confessed that he was rejoicing because of the Lord and because of the believers.(Ps 16:2,11). Moses' last prayer was to ask God "to satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."(Ps. 90:13,4). The apostle Paul wrote that it was God's will and commandment to be joyful always. ¡°Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.¡±(I Thess 5:16-18). God willed life for the aliens and strangers on earth is the life of joy and gladness. I have to confess that through the abundant mercy and grace of God I have lived my whole life joyfully gladly thankfully and happily. I often imagine that even though I would live my last lives with the poor North Korean people in North Korea or with the poor Muslim people in Afghanistan if that is the will of the Lord, I would be living my last lives joyfully gladly thankfully and happily.  

Now I am going to summarize my message today. The Bible describes the believers as ¡°aliens and strangers on earth.¡± We are all ¡°aliens and strangers on earth.¡± I have pointed out five characteristics of life as ¡°aliens and strangers on earth.¡± The first characteristic of the life as aliens and strangers on earth is leaving home country and going somewhere and facing lonely sorrowful and difficult experiences of life. The second characteristic of the life is meeting God and meeting peoples. The third characteristic of the life is sharing. The fourth characteristic of the life is giving up and sacrificing. The fifth characteristic of the life is rejoicing and thanksgiving. I pray that God would bless all of us that we could live our lives as aliens and strangers on earth joyfully, gladly, thankfully and happily. May God bless all of you real good!