11:13Hebrews 11:13

These all died holding faith without receiving the promised fulfillment in their lifetime, yet they saw the promises from afar, were persuaded of them, welcomed them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.CTBH 238.1+2 What they saw was not the mere occupation of Canaan but the immortal inheritance, the whole earth freed from the curse of sin, a better heavenly country, and the city with foundations whose builder and maker is God.PP 169.4–170.2+2 That seeing from afar is the seeing of unseen things by faith, realizing now the powers that move and govern life and looking forward to what will be when mortality puts on immortality.Lt 131, 1904, par. 11–13+2 By confessing themselves strangers and pilgrims they declared plainly that they sought a country, not returning to the country they came out of but desiring a better heavenly one for which God has prepared a city.FE 328.1+1 So God's people in every age live as pilgrims by faith, setting affections on heavenly treasure rather than earthly wealth, showing faith in self-denying holy conduct, and waiting, watching and working for the Lord's appearing.Ms 106, 1902, par. 9–10+4

These all died in faith without receiving the promised fulfillment in their lifetime, yet by faith they saw the promises afar off, were persuaded of them, and embraced or welcomed them, and they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.CTBH 238.1+4 The patriarchs and prophets died still trusting God as certain, satisfied with hope while looking toward the promised city, and their lives are held up as examples that faith can remain firm when fulfillment is not seen in this life.CTBH 238.1+4 By that confession they declared they sought a better, heavenly country and the city God had prepared, and their willingness to live as pilgrims reflected that hope.Ms 6, 1902, par. 16–18+2 A faithful woman whose earthly pilgrimage had ended is counted among them, having looked toward that same promised city.Lt 36, 1893, par. 1–2

The verse belongs to the chapter on faith as a record of faithful people held up as examples and instruction for workers for God, supporting going forward in faith in what is hoped for and not seen.CTBH 238.1+3 It directs the mind beyond discouraging things that are seen to the unseen promises of God, presenting the faithful as seeking a better country and a heavenly city built by God.RH Sep 30, 1902+1 Faith in that chapter brings strength and blessing through grace, and believers need an increase of faith.Ms 76, 1893, par. 10–11 The same faith that carried God's servants through trials can work in believers today to make mysterious providences clear, to strengthen, to sustain and hold by the hand, and to prepare for service.PK 175.2+1 Their fidelity made them heroes of faith and a cloud of witnesses for people living in darkness, who met evils and difficulties and in the Lord's name stood firm and overcame opposing forces of evil.PK 175.2+2

Seeing afar off is the seeing of things not seen by faith.Lt 137a, 1898, par. 1–7 It is not merely seeing what shall be realized when this mortal puts on immortality, but seeing and realizing now the unseen powers which move and govern life, which every born-again soul is to know.Lt 137a, 1898, par. 1–7 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob stand as faithful representatives of that sight, dying without the promised inheritance yet looking for the city with foundations whose builder and maker is God.Lt 131, 1904, par. 11–13 The verse calls for the same living by faith now, with faith stripped of its human elements so it can grasp invisible things in a deeper religious experience.Lt 131, 1904, par. 11–13 Those living in the last days should have greatly increased faith with those promises doubly dear, not only knowing truth but practicing it, never doubting or distrusting God's goodness but grateful for His goodness and mercy, watching and waiting and praying and working for the Lord's appearing, pleading the sacrifice of the cross and laboring to save souls perishing without Christ until heaviness is exchanged for the wedding garment to witness the coronation of the King.Lt 51a, 1894, par. 6–8 That faith sees the promised heavenly country while still far off and moves a person to press toward the heavenly Canaan each day, willingly doing duty, accepting self-denial, and bearing the cross in preparation for eternity.Lt 40, 1891, par. 16–18

Confessing to be strangers and pilgrims declares plainly that they seek a country.FE 328.1+3 They were not mindful of the country they came out of so as to return to it, though they could have returned, but desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one.FE 328.1+3 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.FE 328.1+2 Moses belongs with all the faithful in that confession, and true education trains children and youth for the present life with reference to the life to come, for inheritance in that better heavenly country for which patriarchs and prophets looked.FE 328.1+1 The confession calls for self-examination whether one is merely a citizen of this present world or is securing the blessed hope of citizenship in the kingdom of heaven, cooperating with Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming corruption in the world through lust, responding to the spiritual kingdom Christ sets up in the soul, having conscious title to the inheritance with resurrected saints in light and with living translated saints, with life bound up with the life of Christ.Lt 137a, 1898, par. 1–7

Their example shows that God's servants in every age should expect to live by faith and steadfastly trust His promises even when fulfillment lies beyond their lifetime.Ms 106, 1902, par. 9–10 Faithful people can die without receiving the promises while remaining sure of what is promised, longing for it, and living as strangers and pilgrims toward a heavenly home.Ms 106, 1902, par. 9–10+1 They are weary travelers now, but trust that the promised land, its dwelling place, and lasting rest await them.SG2 56

The promises seen afar off were not fulfilled in the occupation of Canaan, but embrace the immortal inheritance, the whole earth freed from the curse of sin, immortal life on a purified earth, a better heavenly country, and the city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God.PP 169.4–170.2+1 Dying without earthly fulfillment does not cancel the inheritance, for trust looks toward its fulfillment while living as strangers and pilgrims in this world, expecting lasting reward in eternal glory and not in present possessions.PP 169.4–170.2+1 Confessing to be pilgrims and strangers here is required in order to gain that better country, and all who are children of Abraham will seek the city Abraham looked for.PP 169.4–170.2

Abraham had no possession in the earth, not even enough to set his foot on, and did not look upon this world as his home.PP 169.3 Though called to leave idolatrous countrymen with promise of Canaan as an everlasting possession, neither he nor his son nor his son's son received it in their lifetime.PP 169.3 When he needed a burial place he had to buy it from the Canaanites, his only possession in the land of promise being the rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah.PP 169.3+1 He lived as a stranger in the promised land, looked beyond present possessions and hardship to immortal life and a purified earth as home, and was satisfied with hope of the city God builds.10MR 120.2+1

That inheritance is not to be spiritualized away for fear of making it seem too material, but is to be looked upon as a real home and country.RH Oct 22, 1908 It is the heavenly abode with mansions prepared, glorious beyond what eye has seen or ear has heard and beyond finite comprehension.RH Oct 22, 1908 There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters, the tree of life bears fruit every month with leaves for the service of the nations, ever-flowing streams clear as crystal flow, with plains, hills and mountains of beauty.RH Oct 22, 1908 On those peaceful plains beside those living streams, God's people so long pilgrims and wanderers shall find a home.RH Oct 22, 1908 The faithful lived with constantly in view that city with foundations and better heavenly country, willingly as pilgrims and strangers with no desire to return to former worldly associations.13MR 156.1–3

That same hope came down to the disciples who described and foretold it in prophecy, and Christ held out the same attraction in promising permanent abiding places in His Father's house and going to prepare a place.13MR 156.1–3 Day-by-day probationary time should therefore employ every precious moment to prepare to move to that heavenly country, to stand approved when judgment sits and the books are opened according to opportunities and privileges given.13MR 156.1–3 More than eighteen hundred years have passed since the promise of Christ's coming without yet receiving the promises or raising the sleeping saints, but the word remains sure and God will fulfill it in His own time.RH Nov 13, 1913+1 The pilgrims are now so near the eternal world that the city is not a great way off, the time of tarrying is almost ended, heaven is preparing for the day of vengeance and Zion's deliverance, and they are almost home.RH Nov 13, 1913+1 They must not weary or lose hold on faith but hold on a little longer with courage until Christ comes to gather His redeemed, they see the King in His beauty, tears are wiped away, and they are presented faultless before His glory with exceeding joy.RH Nov 13, 1913+1

The promise is of a fair land and lasting rest where the lonely, weary, homeless people will dwell no longer homeless.1T 70.1 Believers are weary travelers now but trust the promised land, its dwelling place, and rest await them, and pilgrim life makes that promised rest and home with God all the more precious.1T 70.1+1 Hope in the better country and the earth made new draws hearts away from worldly pleasures to joy in heavenly things.SCEV 31.5–32.1 Looking ahead to heaven and the promised reward enables endurance of toil and suffering while longing to see Jesus and live in His presence, knowing that losing heaven would mean losing everything.21MR 211.3–6+1

Abel and the descendants of Seth lived a pastoral life dwelling in tents and counted themselves temporary travelers on earth.PP 81.1 They refused to seek permanent possessions, enjoyment, and mere earthly and material progress in this sin-cursed earth as Cain and his descendants did after Cain went out from the Lord and cast away the promise of the restored Eden, and they looked instead for a better, heavenly country.PP 81.1

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are faithful representatives who died in faith without receiving the promised land or inheritance during their lifetime.Lt 131, 1904, par. 11–13+1 Having seen the promises from far away they were persuaded of them and embraced them and admitted they were outsiders and travelers on earth.Lt 131, 1904, par. 11–13 By faith Abraham looked beyond earthly possessions to a better, heavenly country and to the city with foundations whose builder and maker is God.Lt 131, 1904, par. 11–13+1 That means living by faith that seeks the better heavenly country instead of returning to the country left behind, so that God is not ashamed to be called their God and has prepared a city for them.Lt 131, 1904, par. 11–13 It calls for the same living by faith now, with faith stripped of its human elements so it can grasp invisible things in a deeper religious experience.Lt 131, 1904, par. 11–13

Moses belongs with all the faithful who died in faith, not having received the promises but having seen them afar off, being persuaded of them, embracing them, and confessing they were strangers and pilgrims on earth.Ms 150, 1898, par. 10–11+1 They plainly declared they sought a country, and though they could have returned to the country they came out from, they did not, but desired a better country, that is a heavenly one, for which God is not ashamed to be called their God because He has prepared for them a city.Ms 150, 1898, par. 10–11 Moses dying in faith saw afar off a more glorious deliverance than earthly Canaan, lovelier than the land of promise spread before him.PP 477.1 What he saw and embraced was the earth freed from the curse, with no sin and no death able to enter, where the nations of the saved find their eternal home.PP 477.1 With joy he looked on its fulfillment, when earthly wanderings are forever past and the Israel of God at last enter the goodly land.PP 477.1

The fathers died in faith without receiving the promises and without the sight or knowledge of the great and good things given to those who believe in Jesus.SLP 332.1 They desired to see the things believers now see and to hear the things believers now hear, while greater light is shed upon believers by the gospel of Christ.SLP 332.1 Though only a few things were entrusted to them, they were acknowledged and honored for their fidelity, and only those who with the same fidelity improve their greater trust will be counted as profitable servants and be crowned with glory, honor, and immortality.SLP 332.1

The verse was lived out when believers fleeing persecution for conscience' sake were driven from houses, goods, and livelihood into a strange land of different language and customs.GC88 290.1–2+1 Pinched with poverty and forced to learn new and untried labors to earn bread, with middle-aged farmers learning mechanical trades, they cheerfully accepted their lot without idleness or repining.GC88 290.1–2+1 They thanked God for the blessings still left them amid poverty, found their joy in unmolested spiritual communion, and quieted their spirits by lifting their eyes to heaven as their dearest country, looking lightly on earthly things as strangers and pilgrims on earth.GC88 290.1–2+1

The account of ancient believers made them examples for later Christians whose faith holds the same firm principles.CTBH 238.2 Joseph Bates is one who so followed Christ and remained a reformer despite the evils of seafaring life.CTBH 238.2 The faithful can die without receiving the promises in their lifetime, yet trust them as certain, see them ahead by faith, and live as strangers and pilgrims on earth, as applied to a faithful woman whose earthly pilgrimage had ended while she looked toward God's promised city.Lt 36, 1893, par. 1–2 Believers are a pilgrim band standing on Jordan's stormy banks and casting a wishful eye to Canaan's fair and happy land where their possessions lie.ApY 36.1 God's people live as travelers here, and hardship and poverty do not mean God has forsaken them, but trust in Him includes relying on His care for present needs, as expressed in song sung amid severe poverty and in the words "I am a pilgrim and I am a stranger."6MR 131.4+1

Abraham obeyed the command to leave his kindred in his own country and sojourn in a strange land as a pilgrim and stranger with those accompanying him.13MR 357.1 Wherever he pitched his tent his first work was to build an altar for God where he could worship God with them.13MR 357.1 This showed respect for the holiness of God and the greatness and glory of God and his obligation to Him, and showed his faith by his works and testified to the character of his work as nothing else could.13MR 357.1

Those who lived before Christ's coming on earth trusted promises about Him without receiving their fulfillment in their own time.ST Dec 10, 1894+2 Through sacrifices, offerings, types, symbols, and the priesthood they saw His coming and saving work from afar, were convinced of the promises, and welcomed them.ST Dec 10, 1894+2 Those ceremonies represented His death and mediating work but had no saving power in themselves.1RED 10.2+1 They were established to keep before people the separation that sin caused between God and humanity and the need for a Mediator through whom communication cut off by Adam's transgression was reopened to ruined sinners.1RED 10.2+1 The promises were fulfilled in Christ, who gave His life to redeem the world.ST Dec 10, 1894

Abraham saw Christ and embraced the promise through Him.Ms 16, 1894, par. 37–38 The patriarchs' hope rested on Christ, who was their Saviour just as He is ours.Ms 16, 1894, par. 37–38 Christ was the foundation of the Jewish economy and the Lamb to be slain for the sins of the world, and apart from faith in Him they had no hope.Ms 16, 1894, par. 37–38 The description of stranger and sojourner on earth also applies to Christ.MH 422.2+1 Though He lived among people and shared human needs and trials, He was not of the world.MH 422.2+1 He became like His human brothers and sisters, experiencing hunger, thirst, weariness, temptation, and trial, yet remained without sin.MH 422.2+1 His life among humanity represented God's character and revealed God.MH 422.2+1

Followers of Christ in this present age are strangers and pilgrims on earth because His kingdom is not of this world and cannot be established on earth until His second coming.PP 763.1–4+1 Until He comes in glory to sit upon the throne of His glory, judge all nations, destroy those who oppose His sovereignty, and give the kingdom to the saints, believers must live as those whose citizenship is in heaven while waiting for the Saviour.PP 763.1–4 This world is not their home, for their hope is in Christ's kingdom and His coming.RH Jun 10, 1852 Those who follow Jesus are pilgrims and strangers for His sake, and though He ascended to the Father His work for them did not end, for He went to prepare homes for them in heaven, with the mansions of heaven and reunion in God's kingdom as their comfort and goal.RH Nov 13, 1913

The strangers and pilgrims who die in faith will be gathered by God to Himself into the city He has built for them, and He is not ashamed to call them brethren.Ms 37, 1894, par. 24 They are a loyal people fitted for the society of heavenly angels by obedience to the law of God as Christ kept His Father's commandments and abode in His love, with the rebellion that originated in heaven never found in them again.Ms 37, 1894, par. 24 Their fitness is proved as Christ tests them today, and is shown in inquiring what is the way of the Lord, doing justice and judgment, seeking mercy and walking humbly with God, to whom He says, Child, come up higher.Ms 37, 1894, par. 24 That Abraham and other holy people of old will be seen on the new earth does not prove that the soul is naturally immortal.Ms 4, 1883, par. 31

To confess to be strangers and pilgrims declares plainly that they seek a country, and it calls for self-examination whether one is merely a citizen of this present world or is securing the blessed hope of citizenship in the kingdom of heaven.Ms 83, 1901, par. 5–7+1 It means handling the things of this world without becoming worldly and following the principles of heaven in all that is done.Ms 83, 1901, par. 5–7 It means cooperating with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming the corruption in the world through lust, and responding to the forces of the spiritual kingdom Christ sets up in the soul.Lt 137a, 1898, par. 1–7 It means supremely desiring the blessings of salvation with a soul-hunger for righteousness, not being charmed by the pleasures of this life, but looking for a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.Ms 83, 1901, par. 5–7+1 Such have a conscious title to the inheritance with the saints in light after their resurrection and with the living saints after their translation, with life bound up with the life of Christ, and desiring a better country that is heavenly, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.Ms 83, 1901, par. 5–7+1

God's people live as strangers and pilgrims without a sure home here, journeying by faith and trusting God at every step to carry their burdens, content to go wherever He calls, not bound to any earthly place but ready to leave and move at His direction even when it seems inconvenient or unreasonable, looking beyond earthly homes with minds set on the heavenly home Christ prepares and seeking eternal life with Him beside them.Lt 98d, 1896, par. 4+4
Their true home is in a better, heavenly country God has prepared, and their earthly residence is only temporary.LSEGW 293.4+2

Pilgrim identity means not making earthly wealth, possessions, or worldly ambition the aim, not laying up treasure on earth where hearts become fixed, but setting affections on heavenly things and enduring treasure, giving self and means to God's kingdom and living for His glory.5T 188.1+4
The faithful died trusting promises not yet received, looking forward to them, accepting them by faith, and openly living as strangers seeking a heavenly country, and their conduct showed their faith so God could entrust them with truth and use them to make His will known.5T 188.1
Those who move for God's work are to show by their lives that this world is not their home, keep affections on heaven, serve others rather than seek wealth, do good to others, and show by actions that treasure and home are not here, turning affections from earthly concerns toward God and heaven because earthly things are temporary and of lesser worth than the coming kingdom.RH Mar 29, 1870+3

Faith must be visible in life, for dress and conversation reveal whether one truly lives as pilgrim, since worldly speech and appearance show worldly treasure.5T 188.4
Believers are born from above and this world is not their home but they travel to a better country, and they must honor God with pure and holy conduct, with hearts flowing out in love and gratitude for the Son's wondrous love and compassion for sinners, alive and awake to honor, glorify and adore the High and Lofty One, because everything that can be done for salvation is being done and all heaven is interested, leaving no room for stupidity and carelessness.RH Feb 17, 1853+1
That profession is denied by works when one is worldly-minded, engrossed with cares of this life, loving this world and the things of this world with earthly treasure holding the affections, and with an avaricious, close, penurious, selfish, hard, unyielding spirit, whereas true pilgrim faith weans from the world and appears in self-denial, good works, and blameless life that leads beholders to glorify God and gives confidence in the truth of Christ's near coming, loving His appearing who will change vile bodies and fashion them like His most glorious body.Ms 2, 1869, par. 8–9

Seeking the better country calls for self-denial and economy, restraining wants, cheerfully supporting the ministry, and offering what is not needed for necessities as a sacrifice of thanksgiving while the time for saving souls is short, using means responsibly and setting an example that represents faith rather than spending on desires God would have repressed.GW 454.1+2
Because the true home is heavenly, earthly houses are only temporary places to rent, needful but unessential furniture can be done without, nothing is to be bought merely for appearance, and plain durable odd, worn secondhand furniture made for rough handling and moving from place to place is to be accepted while costly furniture is refused even when offered cheap, since every dollar belongs to the Lord to be used to His glory in helping destitute families and building churches.6MR 134.1–2+2

True missionary workers do not colonize or settle permanently in one place by investing large sums to build up one place, which is not in God's order, but make plants in many places with schools and sanitariums established where nothing now represents truth, not for making money but for spreading truth, with land secured at a distance from cities where schools teach youth agricultural and mechanical lines so principles of present truth become widespread rather than crowding many things together in one locality from convenience and leaving places that should be helped destitute, which is great evil.STGC 6.1+2
Church members should leave familiar homes to go where there is work to do, carrying light to people in darkness and error, going out to spread truth rather than concentrating work in a single center.RH Jan 28, 1902+1

Pilgrim hope belongs with devoted service, for those in covenant service are bound to work with the Lord to save others, work earnestly in drawing sinners to Christ, work for conversion of sinners and share experiences gained, direct abilities and resources to good, and prepare self and others for glory, honor and immortality with lives reflecting hope and work directed toward heaven.GW 199.2–3+3
Christ sacrificed Himself to provide a home, and those who receive His grace and hope for immortality should therefore welcome homeless and needy people into their homes.2T 27.3
Their affections and pursuits directed beyond this world, their distinct unselfish lives can lead others toward that better country.Ms 26, 1891, par. 10–14

Believers live in the world but not of it, separated as God's peculiar people with lives shaped by Christ, come out from the world and separate while seeking a better, heavenly country.18MR 156.2+1
God has chosen them out of the world, so the world does not know them because it did not know Him, and the world with its standards is not instructor or rule; they must be in the world and not of it and not conformed to it, speaking and acting as representatives of Christ, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King, revealing heavenly origin in manner and words and character and showing forth the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into marvelous light, keeping the Lord's way exalted in righteousness, doing no injustice to God's blood-bought subjects, and never apologizing for being Christians and daring to be right, for only that life will impress the world with the gospel.Lt 31a, 1894, par. 53–54
Their pilgrim identity means resisting conformity to worldly fashions and desires and being willing to endure the cross and shame and bear reproach rather than surrender principles.TCBMP 68.2–69.1+1

Pilgrim waiting means waiting, watching, praying and working with the oil of grace for the Lord's appearing, holding the promise that Jesus will come again to receive them to Himself, with whole mind, heart and strength bought by His blood and united with His heart, living a life inwrought with the life of Jesus and clothed with His righteousness.Ms 7, 1898, par. 33–34
Believers take their journey as pilgrims and strangers clinging by living faith to the cross of Calvary, for following Christ means denying self and bearing the cross at every step.RH Aug 24, 1916
Their earthly life is a time of waiting distinguished by watchfulness from the world, and sorrow, tribulation, danger and perilous times should make them more vigilant, not careless, marking the waiting church as distinct and showing it lives as a pilgrim people, keeping in mind that the Lord's coming is near and acting as though truly believing it.2T 193.2+3

Hope in the promised home shapes daily words and conduct, preparing for the life ahead by becoming fit for it.ST Aug 18, 1887
Speech should speak of the unseen heavenly country rather than filling conversation with trivial earthly subjects.Ms 74, 1897, par. 2
Beholding provisions made and the mansions Jesus has gone to prepare and talking of the blessed home makes annoyances and fretting cares forgotten, breathing the very atmosphere of that better heavenly country with soothing, comfort and joy in God, breathing in the atmosphere of the heavenly Canaan and the sweetness and fragrance of the heavenly land so garments smell of myrrh and influence exerted is of pleasant heavenly character, with the solemn work done not in surly sour spirit but with pleasantness and love.Lt 91, 1887, par. 5+1
God has not left pilgrims and strangers in a dark world without help, but scatters blessings all along the path to brighten it and lead hearts to love and praise Him, and gives precious promises to lighten every burden like fair flowers strewn along borders blossoming with rich fragrance; they are to draw refreshing water from the well of salvation, sing songs of Zion, cheer their own hearts and others, have hope strengthened, and have darkness turned to light.Lt 91, 1887, par. 10

The journey includes disappointments and spiritual opposition, toil, suffering, poverty and unsettled future with path not seen ahead, but faith in Jesus and perseverance through hardship turn apparent defeats into victories.HSFM 130.4+1
They must keep serving through the end of the battle and not give up or abandon calling, passing through on the way to the true home in the future world.Lt 73, 1899, par. 10
The true light of holiness guides them toward the city of God, the true light from heaven as the star of holiness and heavenly brightness lighting the windows of the soul opened heavenward, while false lights and artificial lights claiming to come from heaven can deceive for a time and, when heaven's bright beams are eclipsed by false lights taking the place of the true, many souls are deceived.8T 194.3+1

Temporary sojourning calls for love rather than bitterness, harsh criticism, or fixation on the world's evil.Ms 62, 1899, par. 9–12
People of faith journey faithfully and treat others as fellow pilgrims, for craving to crowd out or supplant others is contrary to that calling; malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy and evil speaking are fruits God abhors, and those who cherish them will not enter the kingdom, whose journey ends with God's approval only if faithful.14MR 290.2+1

Because all are only pilgrims bound for a better country, there is no distinction of rich or poor, white or black, high or low in worship of God, all prejudice is melted away, and all are in one brotherhood with one bond of interest, in Christ one lifted to the same rank, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King by the one name Our Father placing equal value upon all, with principles of truth binding heart to heart and all united to the great Center, Christ, where thanksgiving and praise go up to God.Ms 24, 1898, par. 20–21

True education trains children and youth for the life that now is and with reference to the life to come, for an inheritance in that better heavenly country for which patriarchs and prophets looked, who died in faith without receiving the promises, having seen them far off and being persuaded and embracing them, confessing they were strangers and pilgrims because they sought a country, not seeking to return to the country left but desiring a better heavenly one for which God has prepared a city and is not ashamed to be called their God.FE 328.1

Earthly stay is brief like a passing vapor, a short probation not meant for gratifying and glorifying self, so giving all time to money matters is wrong because money will not save.4T 490.1+1
Earthly comforts and beautifying a home are temporary while care for the soul matters for the heavenly home, and earthly homes will be shaken down by a great earthquake; therefore believers seek Christ's righteousness and overcome so they may be received into God's paradise, do God's will, work diligently, and wait for His salvation and final reward rather than living for personal ease or pleasure.Lt 107, 1886, par. 4+2
Earthly possessions are temporary trusts, not their own, and use of them tests whether they can be trusted with eternal riches, so faithful stewardship prepares them to receive the heavenly inheritance while selfish use shows unfaithfulness.TEPD 66.1
By profession Christians are only travelers passing through on foot to a better heavenly land where all is joy and peace and happiness, remembering which calls them to prepare for the finishing touch of immortality, live with minds set on heaven, and prepare for Christ's coming when He will raise the righteous dead and take the righteous living to heaven.Ms 69, 1912, par. 82+1

Remembering pilgrim profession calls for preparing earnestly to meet the Lord, keeping lives and hearts pure, and putting truth into practice, with the promised hope of Christ's soon appearing strengthening faith and trust in God and quickening Christian zeal and grace.Ms 15b, 1886, par. 14
Men must be able to see the traveler life in works, and that visible life settles whether they are solid Christians or merely professors; it requires refusing to spend God's means lavishly to glorify self, recognizing terrible calamity as the stroke of an offended God upon such self-glorifying spending, and showing in life and character the sanctification of the gospel and genuine faith in the signs of Christ's soon coming in power and great glory, fearing and trembling for future judgments instead of feeling secure.Lt 10, 1907, par. 7–8
Lives and works should make clear they do not regard this world as lasting home, for true home is in heaven and confidence in God sustains during the brief journey, and fitness for that country requires a heart sympathizing with its inhabitants, so lowly faithful toil is better than reaching heaven without such sympathy.IRCUP 37.2–5+2

Heavenly citizenship above, looking for God's city, is not outward adornment but a life joined to the life of Jesus, expressed in wearing Christ's robe of righteousness.6MR 54.4
That allegiance leads to refusing involvement in politics, avoiding choosing company for amusement, leaving childish pursuits behind, wearing neat apparel with nothing put on to attract attention or create controversy, and keeping houses of worship in harmony with faith as plain tabernacles neat, tasteful, appropriate and dedicated to God free from debt rather than cathedrals, conscientiously refusing to spend the Lord's money on needless adornment and avoiding the great loss of paying interest on debt left on a house of worship.Ms 7, 1898, par. 33–34+2

In light of Christ's soon return, earthly honor and distinction have no lasting value; faith and hope turn the believer heavenward and set apart from the world, with true home and citizenship above and hope fixed on the city God has prepared for them, of whom God is not ashamed to be called their God.STA 69.1+2

Life in this world is but a pilgrimage and heaven is the home to which believers are going, and the Lord does not forsake His faithful workmen on that pilgrimage, so they are to have faith in God.8T 175.1
Their strange great work given by God links them heart and soul together, and they must not throw off armor but wear it till the end, enlisting in His army to serve till the close of the battle without deserting and dishonoring God, until the Lord releases them to lay armor at His feet.8T 175.1

Seeing the saints' inheritance afar off by faith means being persuaded of the promises and embracing them with perfect confidence in the God behind them.Ms 49, 1893, par. 1–3
It means confessing gladly to be pilgrim and stranger whose mission requires waiting, watching and working, declaring plainly by life and character to all contacts to seek a better heavenly country like the men of old who loved and feared God, until the time fully comes to enter with the saints in light the city which has foundations whose maker and builder is God.Ms 49, 1893, par. 1–3

Professed believers who call themselves strangers and pilgrims preparing for a better country contradict their claim when absorbed in acquiring and keeping earthly wealth, giving little time to God and showing no spirit of sacrifice, for their lives reveal hearts and interests fixed on this world.2T 662.1–3

Life on earth is an exile and heaven the future eternal home, and Christ carried minds of hearers away from earthly exile to that home, teaching by His own example that men can commune with God in words of holy song even amid daily toil and weariness, while a good home gives rest to weary pilgrims.Ms 24, 1898, par. 15–16+1

God's faithful people look little on earthly things, with the heavenly mansions Christ prepares as the home hoped to receive.Ms 80, 1886, par. 34–38
The heroes' fidelity made them examples for people living in darkness, and their obedience and faithful lives shine before others and lead them to glorify God.Ms 53, 1902, par. 3+1