God's Way of Reconciliation
Ephesians 2.4
This passage is an extract from a sermon preached by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones which can be found in his second volume of sermons from Ephesians: God's Way of Reconciliation, published by the Banner of Truth. The quotations are from the AV and although, at that time, 'man' was taken to mean 'men and women', the truth rings out to our comfort when the world now presents the same ugly face.
Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The Christian is a man, who, to use a Scriptural phrase, knows that he is but 'a stranger and a pilgrim' in this world. He is a mere sojourner, he does not any longer live for this world: he has seen through it, he sees beyond it. He is a journeyman, a traveller, and, as James puts it (chapter 4) he is a man who has realised that his life is 'but a vapour', a breath. So he does not regard this world as permanent; he does not lay down his plans and say: 'I am going to do this or that.' Not at all! But rather: 'If the Lord will . . .', it is all under God, and he realises how contingent it is. He does not any longer pin his faith or set his affections on this world.
