I am a sojourner and foreigner among you. (4, ESV)
When Sarah died, perhaps the truth of those words really hit home for Abraham.
He was in the land God had promised to give him and his descendants, but the only part he owned was the place he purchased to bury Sarah.
He was in a land where he was a mere sojourner and a foreigner.
We too are sojourners and foreigners in this world.
The culture of this world is different from ours as citizens of God’s kingdom. The way the people think and act is different from how we think and act. And so we feel out of place.
On top of that, when we see all the pain in this world, when we see how death reigns here, we start to feel homesick for heaven.
Our hearts are not truly here. We’re looking for something better.
And we have something better. We have a hope, an inheritance promised by a God who never breaks his promises.
So let’s hold firmly to that hope, taking on the attitude of Abraham, Sarah, and all who have come before us.
These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised.
But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return.
But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 