The alien

These words alien and foreigner are pretty interchangeable today. Both connote that the prescribed person is not from within; but from a different country; faraway place with dissimilar values, maybe. And so they are outsiders and they know it.

While this is true, the effects and strain that being an identified outsider places on a person is burdensome. I remember a true story once, when people from Ghana who had emigrated to Nigeria, mostly doing minimal jobs, were forced to leave and return to their homeland. It was a painful time for them. Children born in Nigeria were forced to leave with their families to a land, though theirs, yet now foreign. I can’t find a better word, and so I say their ‘homeland’. In this instance, Nigeria was as much those people’s homeland also, if they were not just deemed aliens. They were lost amongst two nations, where neither knew them or wanted them. Being an alien is not easy, and something must have prompted the father, mother or child to become an alien. In some instances, it might be a punishing and unbearable war; and for some it is abject poverty. It is human nature to dream, and even dream big. It is human nature for the latter generation to desire to climb higher than the former. Unfortunately for most, their geographical location was their greatest enemy and impediment. And if that desire to do better than your father or mother is strong enough, you will go searching for a land that will be merciful enough to give you this life. Some search for safety. Some search for wealth. Some search for a freer life. Humans are always on the hunt, because life promises that there must be something better on the other side.

And so it is not easy to understand the plight of an alien. We might call them alien, but I hear God call them His child. God said this to the Israelites in Exodus 22:21 “You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.

God cares for the alien in our midst. If He did not care, He would not have reminded the Israelites that they once were aliens; they once were foreigners; they once were wanderers in the wilderness. Also I am reminded of that poignant statement that Jesus made in Luke 9:58. But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” He was an alien too! He had no set place by virtue of Him being the Lamb. Remember in Matthew 2:13 that God had instructed Joseph to go take his family to Egypt to flee Herod’s threats. Jesus, Joseph and Mary were aliens! Of course borders and country integrity must be honored. This is important. This is of necessity. And yet you will find that the desperation for safety within, that Joseph, Mary and Jesus felt, moved them across the borders. Just as hunger moves some across borders. And for some, just an opportunity for a better life.

Imagine us living in such a time! Would we tell Joseph that they do not belong? Would we call Jesus an alien? Or would we show them love, acceptance and compassion!

I am convinced that humans are like water, flowing here and flowing there, all dependent on the circumstances around them. Of course many have a stable environment, and don’t need to move. Jesus didn’t. The Jews didn’t. But God led them to a more secure stable place as a holding place. It will serve us well to consider aliens as our brothers and sisters in Christ. People we should love rather than fear. People we should embrace rather than shun. You never know, when you entertain one, maybe you are entertaining an angel. Nothing depicts what is within. The world labels. God looks at the heart.

I pray we look at the heart too.

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Linda Faith

Linda faith is the Editor in Chief of Jewels Magazine. She co-pastors along with her husband Revival Worship Church, Tampa. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk.