I Am A Poor Wayfaring Stranger

1. Read: “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).

2. About the Text:

1) This is an old American spiritual.

2) We do not know its origins; there are many legends surrounding it.

3) There are several versions of lyrics.

4) The lyrics I am looking at are from our hymnal, Songs of Faith and Praise.

5) The song presents a series of contrasts between life on earth vs. life in eternity.

6) It is written in the first person that we may identify with its perspective.

7) It’s a perspective of transition from carnal to spiritual.

8) This is illustrated in the refrain, “I’m only going over Jordan; I’m only going over home.”

a. The Jordan River is a symbol of death and transition.

b. Of the children of Israel, everyone over 20 died (save Joshua and Caleb) before the nation could enter the promised land.

c. They had to be transformed.

d. We’ve got to die at the Jordan river to get across to the promised land.

e. We also must be transformed.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “I am a poor wayfaring stranger While trav’ling thru this world of woe, Yet there’s no sickness, toil nor danger In that bright world to which I go. I’m going there to see my Father, I’m going there no more to roam; I’m only going over Jordan, I’m only going over home.”

2. The concept of Christians being strangers and pilgrims.

1) We’ve already noticed 1 Peter 2:11

2) Roots in the Old Testament – “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me” (Leviticus 25:23).

3) David alludes to this also – “For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, ??As were all our fathers; ??Our days on earth are as a shadow, ??And without hope” (1 Chronicles 29:15).

4) Jesus “tented” in the flesh – John 1:14 – He pitched His tent among us.

5) “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

6) Reminds us of another song, “This World is Not My Home.”

3. Heaven is a place free of trouble, a place of rest.

1) “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

2) “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9).

4. The Father’s home is in heaven.

1) Father is a spiritual reference here as is “mother” and “Savior” later on.

2) Remember the story of the prodigal son – the Father is at home.

3) Heaven is our “eternal home” – Ecclesiastes 12:5.

4) “For our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20).

1. “I know dark clouds will gather round me, I know my way is rough and steep; But golden fields lie out before me Where God’s redeemed shall ever sleep. I’m going there to see my mother, She said she’d meet me when I come; I’m only going over Jordan, I’m only going over home.”

2. Some symbolism of problems.

1) Dark clouds are a symbol of turbulence, problems, difficulties.

2) A rough and steep way is difficult, hard, and troublesome.

3. We have and should expect troubles in this life.

1) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

2) “For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know” (1 Thessalonians 3:4).

4. A rough and steep way is what Christ said we should follow.

1) “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

2) “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

5. Some symbolism of peace.

1) Golden fields – old concept of home where you have full abundance.

2) God’s redeemed shall ever sleep – metaphor of eternal rest/peace for the faithful.

3) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

4) Sleep used to refer to death/rest for faithful in NT – John 11:11; 1 Thess.4:15.

6. To meet my mother.

1) Concept of family inclusive of the church.

2) “but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all” (Galatians 4:26).

3) “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

4) “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).

1. “I’ll soon be free from every trial, My body sleep in the church-yard; I’ll drop the cross of self-denial And enter on my great reward. I’m going there to see my Savior; To sing His praise forevermore; I’m only going over Jordan, I’m only going over home.”

2. We have trials in this life.

1) We embrace pain for purpose – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

2) We count trial for joy – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2).

3) Not strange – “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

3. Cross of self-denial.

1) Direct reference to Matthew 16:24-25 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

2) “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:38).

3) “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

4. Going to see my Savior.

1) “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21).

2) “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

5. Sing His Praise forevermore.

1) “but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:13).

2) “And they sang a new song, saying: ??“You are worthy to take the scroll, ??And to open its seals; ??For You were slain, ??And have redeemed us to God by Your blood” (Revelation 5:9).

1. We should be moving from the carnal to the spiritual, from …

1) Pilgrimage to Rest

2) Problems to Peace

3) Pain to Praise

2. Invitation