God's people have often lived as sojourners, embodying a life of impermanence and movement, as seen in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who dwelt in tents for much of their long lives despite God's promise of a land. They were strangers and pilgrims in a place not yet theirs, owning no land except burial plots, reflecting an unsettled existence. Similarly, Moses and Aaron spent decades in tents during the wilderness wanderings, and David lived in temporary shelters while tending sheep or during military campaigns. The prophets and apostles, too, were often itinerant, moving from place to place, sleeping in tents or wherever they could, as they carried out their missions. Even our Lord and Savior, during His ministry, had no permanent place to lay His head, living in temporary dwellings. This pattern of unsettled life extends to the history of God's Church, which has moved from place to place, often due to persecution, unable to settle for long in one location. Peter refers to God's people as pilgrims and sojourners, scattered across the earth, yet moving toward a goal—the Kingdom of God. The Feast of Booths reminds us that we are the Israel of God in the wilderness of this world, wandering at God's will toward His Promised Land. Despite the circumstances, He guides us, whether we realize it or not, urging us to follow His lead as He did with the Israelites through the pillar of cloud and fire. Through dwelling in temporary shelters during the Feast, God teaches us a sense of impermanence, reminding us that this present world is not our inheritance; our true home is in the world to come. We are to look beyond the tangible and temporary, focusing on the eternal settlement in His Kingdom. Additionally, God instills a sense of movement, emphasizing that we are not merely unsettled but journeying toward a specific destination, even if the path seems unclear or winding, as it was for the Israelites in the wilderness. Finally, God desires us to cultivate a sense of loyalty, exemplified by Abraham's immediate obedience to God's call to go to an unknown land. As sojourners, our loyalty is transferred to God and His Son, prioritizing His Kingdom above all earthly ties, trusting Him to lead us to our ultimate rest.

As Christians, we are strangers, pilgrims, and sojourners in this world, much like the patriarchs who sought a homeland, not being citizens of the land in which they dwelt. Our citizenship is in heaven, and just as a citizen of one country cannot vote in the elections of another, we should not participate in the elections of earthly nations because we do not belong to them. We are called out of this world by God, set apart with a different mind and purpose, and thus, our involvement in worldly systems and governments is not ours to claim. Instead, we look beyond the affairs of this age, focusing on our true mission to prepare for the Kingdom of God, where our hope and ultimate allegiance reside.

We are called sojourners and pilgrims, terms that carry distinct yet complementary meanings in our journey. In our time, sojourners are better understood as aliens, individuals living in a foreign land while retaining citizenship in their country of origin. As aliens, we reside on earth, yet our true citizenship is in heaven, meaning we do not possess the rights of citizens in this world, just as aliens in a nation like the United States cannot vote. Our allegiance is to the Kingdom of God, not to any earthly nation, requiring us to draw a line despite any natural patriotism we might feel for the land of our birth. We must choose to be citizens of either this world or the Kingdom of God. A pilgrim, on the other hand, is a person on the move toward a special, holy place. While a sojourner may appear to have a permanent residence, a pilgrim emphasizes that our residency here is not permanent; we are merely passing through. Thus, we embody both identities simultaneously—aliens in this world and pilgrims journeying toward a divine destination. Peter appeals to us as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts, for two critical reasons. First, as part of a holy nation, succumbing to such desires risks losing our status as aliens and pilgrims. Second, following through on these lusts causes us to put down roots in this world, making it our homeland and leading us to become worldly, a path contrary to our calling.