07/04/2023
Today is Independence Day in the United States, and as a citizen of my country I think about the significance of this celebration to me. But what this leads me to is a deeper consideration of the day when I announced my personal independence from all but Jesus Christ... seeking to become a citizen of God’s heavenly realm... a Christian.
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Philippians 3:20-21 ESV
And John the Baptist proclaimed the arrival of God’s kingdom,
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:1-2 KJV
As Christians we know that by doing the will of God, and accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, we not only enter into it...
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
But we also change citizenship. However, like any earthly country, we don’t become a citizen by simply entering into it. We must either have been born in it, or have gone through a process that qualifies us, and the most telling part of such processes is when one swears allegiance to it, and its rulers. As Christians we adhere to these ways of becoming a citizen as well…
“Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."”
John 3:3 ESV
As we just read in John 3:3, this is true of the heavenly kingdom too... we don't just go to church every Sunday and to Bible Study once a week and become citizens of heaven. Those things are indicative of the steps in the process, but we get no document of citizenship by performing them. We must be born again, and implicit in that rebirth comes a change to our lives. Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus has made provision for our rebirth.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21 KJV
This all begs two questions... what is the will of God for us that Jesus is referring to, and how do we become citizens? Well, it really isn't hard to understand; here are the steps as I discern them. It begins with our believing that God’s will is that none of us should perish; then, that we hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, believe it is true, confess that Jesus is the Son of God and our savior, repent and ask forgiveness for your sins, be baptized, and live by the laws of our new kingdom... just as Jesus and the Bible have defined them. If we do these things our citizenship is secured. By God’s mercy and grace, none of these steps are beyond our reach, but they require much of us in completing them. Are we ready to begin the path to this new citizenship, or are we well on our way, and living each day in anticipation of proclaiming our loyalty? Either way, I pray for our success and look forward to that day when each of us has our citizenship affirmed by God’s final judgement.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for making provision through your Son Jesus Christ for all those who hear, believe, confess, repent, join, and live by Him to become citizens of your kingdom. I thank you for your mercy and grace, because the land I travel from is debased, and wretched, and my citizenship there is less than worthless. Even so Lord, you have seen past my sinfulness, and found worth in me... enough so that you sent your only begotten Son to the cross that I might be forgiven my sins, and live with you forever. I struggle each day Father to live the life of a Christian, and as a citizen of your kingdom. I pray that you find me worthy, through the blood of your Son, as I stand to claim my citizenship. On that day of my final judgement may your Son know me as his friend and a joint heir with Him; on that day I pray for the moment when I will hear your voice proclaim me... "Citizen!"
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”
Ephesians 2:19 ESV
Rich Forbes