To have the pilgrim’s mentality is to set our minds on things that point to our heavenly home.  Paul emphasized this in his letter to the saints at Colossae.

Colossians 3:1–2 (ESV)
¹ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

The one thing that can stop us from doing this is falling in love with the world, something that is expressly warned against by John.

1 John 2:15 (ESV)
¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

The world encompasses everything contrary to the will of God.  This is why John went on to write, “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (ver. 17).  Love for this world stops people from doing the will of God.  This is a problem since only those who do God’s will are going to make it to heaven.

Matthew 7:21 (ESV)
²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Have you fallen in love with this world?  How do you know if you have?  Here are some manifestations of worldliness that should tell you that you have become altogether too attached to this world.

• Materialism – In this world of glamor and glitz, a world that is filled with delightful things that are desirable to the flesh, it is easy to drift into chasing after those material things. If you ever find yourself wanting to accumulate earthly possessions more than you want to please God (something that shows itself when we begin to care more about material things than we do spiritual things) it is because you have fallen in love with this world and the love of the Father is no longer in you.

• The Recreation We Choose – All recreation is not bad, but some of it can certainly demonstrate worldliness. Here are some questions that you should ask yourself.  Does your recreation jeopardize your influence for Christ?  Does it involve you in anything immoral such as drinking,  dancing, or doing drugs?  Does it take you to places where God is not glorified?  Does it involve any kind of immodest dress?  If we find ourselves doing worldly things, it is because we have allowed ourselves to become worldly.  

• By Our Conversation – Jesus tells us that what comes out of the mouth proceeds forth from the heart (Luke 6:45). If you are always talking about worldly things, it says that those are the things that occupy your mind the most, which, in turn, reveals your love for them.  Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).  Your treasure is what you love the most in life.  What does your conversation reveal about where your heart is?

Instead of loving the world, we should be offended by it.  Remember, the world involves things that are contrary to God’s will…things that are unrighteous and ungodly.

Do you want to know who does not fall prey to loving the world?  It is those who live this life with a pilgrim’s mentality…those who always remember that this world is not their home, but that their true citizenship is in heaven.  Let’s strive to live every day with that mentality.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.