Heb. 11:8-16 Abraham's was a journey of faith, leaving all that was familiar to him to set his hopes on a strange land, far far away. He set the precedent and from his time forward, all of God's people have always been nomads.
Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3, 10 (God called upon Abram to leave his home and family to go to a strange place he had never seen before.)
Isaac: Gen. 26:24 (The blessing promised to Abraham was conferred to Isaac. He too lived as a nomad, journeying toward that far off promised land.)
Jacob: Gen. 27:29, Gen. 47:4 (The blessing continued through Jacob. Although he lived in Palestine for a time, he moved to Egypt and there lived and died as a pilgrim.)
Following Years: They were in Egypt for many years, upon leaving they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Under Joshua they spent 7 years conquering Canaan, followed with 450 years of Judges that fought to secure the kingdom and finally 40 years of king Saul the great warrior. Now under the reign of righteous David, surely they are home. Are they home? Are they no more pilgrims?
David: Lev. 25:23 (Although Israel occupied the promised land, it belonged to God, it never really was their home. They were still nomads. Illustrate with "God's Little Acre")
Ps. 39:12, I Chron. 29:15-16 (David realized that even though they were no longer traveling and living in tents they were still on a pilgrimage, not toward an earthly land but toward a heavenly land. In this way all of God's people should be nomads. Review text again.)
Today: 1 Pet. 1:1, 4, 17 (Peter's is a book that deals with strangers, sojourners, pilgrims. This is because you, like the patriarchs, are just a nomad living in a strange land, looking for a spiritual city.)
1 Jn. 2:15 (As nomads we should not love the world. The world should not feel like home.)
1 Cor. 7:29-31 (Although we are involved in things on this earth, we should live, remembering this is not our home.)
Illustrated: Ruth 1:8-9, 14-16 (The story of Ruth is a good example of someone who voluntarily repudiated their earthly roots and embraced the pilgrimage that is part of serving God. You should do the same.)
Heb. 13:14 (You should leave your earthly roots.)
Phil. 3:20 (And make your roots with God. The term "conversation" in this passage means citizenship.)
What This Will Do For You:
1 Pet. 2:11 (Realizing this world is not your home will help you to throw off the lust for worldly things. Illustrate with short visit, won't accept pie, comfortable chair.)
Rom. 8:25 (A strong hope for heaven instead of comfort in this world will give you staying power.)
2 Tim. 2:4 (Shedding worldly ties will help you to become a better soldier. Illustrate with a WWII soldier in Patton's 3rd army stopping in France to build a house and start a business.)
Conclusion: Mt. 6:19-21 (The conclusion is that you should put your energy into heavenly pursuits and not let earthly affairs stand in the way of you realizing that you are a nomad. This world is not our home.)