When I hear the word "pilgrim," my mind pictures a man in dark clothing with a tall hat and a rifle in one hand and sometimes that person is kneeling down in prayer. I think of the stories I have been told about the people trying to escape religious persecution and so they came to this new land. When I think of pilgrims, I think of a group of people who did not have much in the way of food and who had very little to be thankful for by our standards, yet they were in fact. When I think of pilgrims, I think of "Thanksgiving!" Their first "Thanksgiving" was very different from the way we celebrate this holiday.
The question I want us to consider is, "are you a pilgrim?" To answer this question we must first look at what the word "pilgrim" means. In the New Testament, the word means one who is sojourning in a strange place, away from one's own people." It is used in Hebrews 11:13, metaphorically of those to whom Heaven is their own country, and who are sojoumers or pilgrims on this earth. The people of Hebrews 11 put God and His kingdom first in their lives just as we are commanded to do (Matthew 6:33). So, if we are doing this, then we are pilgrims and we will give thanks to God for preparing us a place in His city. This world will not have a stronghold on us. Even as we move throughout our daily lives, "thanksgiving" will be on our lips. Our eyes will be upon our goal of heaven and we will understand that we are pilgrims just passing through this life on to eternal life!