Many of you are not living in the country where you were born. Many of you have not been in your home country for a very long time. You have been through terrible wars and seen many tragedies. Your country has been torn apart by clan warfare and Somalis are killing Somali even though they say they believe in God. There has been violence and bloodshed everywhere and for one reason or another you were forced to leave Somalia because you feared for your life.
And the journey from your home country to where you are right now has been dangerous and unsafe. It wasn’t easy. There were many dangers and criminals along the way. And maybe you find yourself alone in a strange land. And even where you are right now is a place filled with violence and danger. Maybe the people in the country you are living in do not accept you. You may not have legal status in the country where you are: you are like a refugee on the face of the earth and you do not have a home.
Some people in the Bible were in the same situation.
Moses said:
“I have been a stranger in a strange land.” – Exodus 2:22
This world is only temporary place
No matter how long we live upon this earth our life here is only temporary – our lives on earth are not forever. Our home is in heaven with the Lord. We may live to be 120 years old but in the end we will die and leave this planet called earth. We are born into this world and each of us will die. Our life is very temporary.
The Bible says:
“People are like grass;
their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower dies.” – 1 Peter 1:24
The Bible also says:
“My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.” – Psalm 102:11
Yes our life on this earth is very temporary. And the body that we live in is also temporary. We as human beings exist as a body and a soul. So even though our body will die and be buried in the ground – our soul will live forever. We will either be with God in heaven or with Satan in hell. Choose God!
Our bodies are like tents
Our bodies are like tents. We live in our bodies but one day we will lose our bodies – they will be taken away. Death will come along and take our away bodies and our bodies will cease to exist. We will die physically but our souls will continue to live on.
It says in the Bible:
“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.” – 2 Corinthians 5:1
If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you will live forever.
A Somali Christian goes to heaven
I had the joy of knowing a Somali Christian whose name was Ahmed Haile. Some of you might know about him or maybe you even knew him. Ahmed Haile was a Somali Christian who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and devoted his life to serving Jesus and trying to bring peace to his beloved homeland of Somalia.
Ahmed Haile wrote a book that is called “Teatime in Mogadishu.” He writes about his life as a Christian and his desire to see his fellow Somalis believe in and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and their Saviour. Ahmed believed in Jesus Christ. Ahmed was a Somali and Ahmed was a Somali Christian.
Ahmed can be seen on youtube if your search for Ahmed Haile – Teatime in Mogadishu. In the later years of his life Ahmed got cancer and he knew that he was going to die. I spoke to him about his faith soon before he died and he was strong in his belief in Jesus Christ and knew that after he died he would go to heaven and be with Jesus forever. He was not afraid to die because Ahmed knew where he was going. He was going to go to heaven to be with Jesus.
Ahmed knew that he was going to heaven because he knew that his sins had been forgiven and that it was his sins that were separating him from God. Ahmed knew that Jesus was punished for our sins. Ahmed knew that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and died for us so that he would not have to die. Ahmed’s sins had been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ and Ahmed had received the Holy Spirit and was given eternal life.
Ahmed died of cancer but Jesus washed away the sins from his life. Jesus gave Ahmed the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Ahmed is now in heaven with Jesus where there is no more pain and no more sorrow.
We are just travelers on this earth
If you want stability and peace on this earth you will not find it in a building or in a specific country – if you have lots of money you will not find peace for your heart. You will only find peace and stability in the Lord Jesus Christ and by putting your faith in Him. You will come home and find your home and find your peace when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and your Saviour. Jesus Christ is the light of the world; Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life; Jesus Christ is the door; Jesus Christ is the bread that came down from heaven.
If you put your faith in Jesus Christ you will be saved. If you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and if you confess with your mouth that Jesus rose from the dead you will receive eternal life – if you believe in Jesus Christ you will be saved and forgiven of your sins.
You will receive eternal life and you will be looking forward to going to your new home that is in heaven.
Your house on earth is temporary
Some houses are only temporary structures that are built to block the sun and the rain. They are just a few pieces of wood or sticks with some material put on top like a roof. But God has a place for you in heaven that is secure and that will last forever.
Sometimes you find yourself in a strange land. Sometimes you have to live in a hotel or somewhere else. We are all just travellers here on earth – passing through. Everything you see on this earth is temporary: the big houses, the tin huts, the shacks – everything.
The rich people who drive around in expensive cars and live in mansions think that money can buy them everything. They think that if they put a name of a street or a hospital wing they will live forever. But you cannot buy your salvation with money. Money will not buy your salvation. Only the blood of Jesus can buy you your salvation.
You have an eternal house in heaven
God is eternal and when you accept Him you will find peace and joy. You will be at home because you will have God in your heart.
Ephesians 3:19 says that we are no longer strangers and foreigners to God but are holy citizen’s of God’s kingdom.
Hebrews 11 says that Abraham was looking forward to heaven even though he was on earth living in a tent. And many of you are thinking that there must be something better than what you see around you.
I am here to tell you that there is a home waiting for you in heaven if you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
The Bible says:
“All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland.”
Give your heart to Jesus now
For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.”
So today if you hear His voice then you should respond and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and into your life. Today is the day of salvation. Now is the time to get right with God. Now is the time to ask Jesus Christ to wash away your sins. Now is the time to call upon the God of the universe to be your friend and Saviour forever.
We Somalis have travelled many, many miles in search of peace. We never realized that peace was always all around. The Bible says “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.”
All you have to do is to call out to God with your heart. Let the words come from your heart. Speak out to God and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and give you a new life.
You will never be alone because God will come into you. God will fill you with His Holy Spirit. And if you continue to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you will be saved. You will never be alone. Never. You will always have a friend.
In the dust with God
So if you are someone who is living in the dust and you are poor, know this, you can have eternal life and peace with God. No matter if you are rich or poor, sitting in the dust of Somalia or in a palace in Dubai – God is there. He is as near to you as your mouth; if you call upon His name with all your heart He will show Himself to you. He will come alive before you very eyes. In fact He has always been there waiting for you to invite Him into your life and heart.
Jesus said:
“Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hears my voice and opens the door I will come into Him.”
Do it today. Today is the day of Salvation.