Dr Kevin Blackwell

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, whose heart is set on a pilgrimage.” Psalm 84:5

Psalm 84 is a song for the Jewish pilgrims’ journey to Jerusalem, with a particular focus on Mt. Zion. There were 3 Jewish Festivals annually when all Jews who were physically able were expected to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem as commanded by the Torah. Once there, they would participate in festivities and worship alongside the priest’s services at the Temple. These festivals included Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Psalm 84 is a song for the Pilgrim’s journey to Jerusalem. Psalm 84, however, is also an encouragement to us who know Christ. We who claim Christ as Savior are Pilgrims. A pilgrim, by definition, is on a journey to a sacred place. Though we live here, we are not citizens of this place. We should always feel like foreigners, aliens, and homesick pilgrims. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 3:20).  Peter exhorts his readers, “I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” (1 Peter 2:1).

“Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan is one of the most significant theological works in history.  In the book, Bunyan views life as a Pilgrimage from the city of destruction (the world) to the Celestial City (heaven). He writes of the Pilgrim’s Progress on this journey:

“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend.
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up, heart; let’s neither faint nor fear.
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.”

Interestingly, he writes the book from a prison cell due to being arrested for having an illegal worship service outside of the auspices of the Church of England. Bunyan reminds readers that the Christian way is not the easy way. It is a difficult ascent. It is not the easy way to go, but it is the right way to go.

In his classic book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson makes a penetrating observation about modern Christianity. He writes that in churches today, there are pilgrim disciples and spiritual tourists.

He explains the difference this way:

“It is not difficult in such a world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest.”

Peterson notes that millions claim to follow Christ, but the evidence of mature discipleship is often thin. Our culture is fascinated with religious experiences, yet hesitant to commit to lifelong spiritual formation.

Tourists are interested in the spectacular.
Pilgrims are committed to the sacred.

Tourists visit when it is convenient.
Pilgrims order their lives around the journey.

Tourists seek new experiences.
Pilgrims pursue transformation.

Tourists treat faith like a destination to visit occasionally—perhaps a Sunday service, a conference, or a retreat. But pilgrims understand that following Christ is not an event; it is a lifelong path of obedience.

A pilgrim disciple commits to what Peterson calls “a long obedience in the same direction.”

A Pilgrim Disciple is not like a spiritual tourist. He/she travels daily with a commitment to a long obedience in the same direction. While the spiritual tourists will make occasional visits to church, go to church when it is convenient, or will sporadically read their Bible, especially during times of personal crises.

As you continue on your pilgrimage, do not just trudge, but run with endurance. Set your heart on heaven. Pilgrims are on a homeward journey, looking forward with great anticipation to the day when they will reach Mount Zion and worship in the presence of God. They are never at home until they reach their spiritual home. They are in search of the sacred. Tourists, on the other hand, count their current residence as home and are in search of the spectacular. They make a visit to worship, but do not dwell there. Spiritual tourists are trying to live in two homelands at the same time, and that does not work. Pilgrim disciples seek to worship, and tourists desire to sightsee. Which are you?

Are you merely visiting the things of God when it suits you?
Or has your heart been captured by the journey toward Him?

Pilgrims press on.
Pilgrims endure.
Pilgrims refuse to settle for the comforts of the present world.

Their eyes are fixed on Zion.

And one day, they will arrive home.