My country is. . . .

A friend here from another country is seeking permanent resident status. National laws and red tape make the process slow and cumbersome. A few urge her to be aggressive and put more pressure on various agencies to get her citizenship status changed, but she is not going to do that. As a Christian, she knows that no matter what happens here, her true citizenship is not on this earth. 

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 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 3:18–21)

Many biblical passages affirm that those who are in the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ are not of this world. However, this does not mean we can ignore the responsibility of living here. Our friend has a job. She takes serious the work she is given even though her abilities are not used to the full. She would not dream of abusing the privileges or freedoms she has. 

While those born in this country might resent those who come here a refugees, most of the refugees we know are hard-working and thankful people. They are doing what God charged His people to do when they were exiled to Babylon. In that OT narrative, and contrary to what they might have expected, God told them:

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (Jeremiah 29:4–7)

For those who realize their true citizenship is in heaven, and even though we will inherit the earth when it is made new in the kingdom (Revelation 21:1), nevertheless in a profound sense this world is not our home. The Bible says that when we are away from our bodies we will be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). For that reason, we are not to be conformed to this world in our attitudes and lifestyle. Our lives “are hid with Christ in God” and we have been “rescued … from the domain of darkness and transferred … to the kingdom of his beloved Son” and have “passed out of death and into life.” Clearly, we are exiles and strangers here, and here to bring glory to the God who has adopted us as His people.

Reading the Bible shows me what that means. I’m to love God and my neighbor, do to others in the way I want to be treated, honor the Lord, respect those in authority over me, and obey all that the Lord says. Being “in this world, but not of this world” is not always easy for the ways of God are not the same as human or worldly ways. This is why our friend is not fighting for any “human rights” — she knows the privilege of being a citizen of a far greater realm than this one.

PRAY: Lord, I am thankful that my status is not mere ‘pie in the sky’ but being an ambassador in this foreign land as a citizen of Your kingdom. I represent heaven on earth, an amazing status and a great responsibility. How I need Your grace and enabling to be what You have called me to be, and serve You instead of bowing to all that this world offers. 

My eternal home

Yesterday someone asked about our move, then said, “When all is in order, then it will feel like home.” I told her that the first time I saw it, even before we made an offer, this place seemed like home. However, today’s reading reminds me of something Jesus said:

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1–3)

Years ago, I was grumbling about tedious housework. God used these verses to remind me that my Savior knew all about homemaking. He was building a most glorious place — a forever home with no sorrows, no bad memories, no troubles or tears. My task is not quite like that, but knowing He is doing this replaced my grumbling with a glad heart.

Today I read it again with joy, also realizing another parallel. For the past few weeks, our home has been upside-down, not just this one we are now working on to settle in, but the former one that went through a whirlwind of decluttering and downsizing. We are still doing that homemaking and even though I am an organized person, these rooms do not look like it — yet.

Apply that to the world around us. Contrary to many thoughts about ‘heaven’ and it being ‘out there somewhere’ the Bible says God’s people will experience eternal life in a restored new home here:

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17)
For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain. (Isaiah 66:22)
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (Revelation 21:1)

The NT also says this odd thing about where I live now:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus… (Ephesians 2:4–6)

In a spiritual sense, I am already home, seated with Jesus in an eternal place. While the sense of this is hard to explain, it does describe the reality that this being at home with Him is experienced before actually getting there. I know where that home is, just like I knew this new address was my home before we actually purchased it and moved in. And it is perfect for us right now, even though there are boxes to empty, touch-ups needed, pictures to hang, and furniture that is not quite in the right place. It is still already home.

PRAY: Jesus, the sense of being home is lovely regarding this physical house, and much like the sense of knowing where my heavenly home is and what it will be like. I am so blessed to know that You, the perfect Homemaker, are preparing a place for me, a place perfect in its design and layout, but even more so because it is where You are — and I will be with You, perfection personified, for eternity.

Knowing the future . . .

I might say that I don’t want to know the future but doesn’t everyone? Last night in a long conversation about politics, it was obvious that the person on the other end of the telephone wanted to know, even control the days ahead by knowing what will happen next. He was hoping for a good government, peace and prosperity. Doesn’t everyone?

However, both of us know the biblical prophecies. God promises to bring in a “new heaven and a new earth” but before that happens, life will not be pretty, even for the people of God. While there is much debate about the exact meaning of those prophecies, I don’t want to forget that the last book of the New Testament begins with an amazing promise:

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

God tells me to read it aloud. Immediately I remember that He says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Faith is not limited to verbal; I can believe and grow in faith by reading, but there is something about hearing that is important.

God also says to obey what this last book says. That is an interesting challenge. It was written by the apostle John while in exile on the island of Patmos, off the coast of present-day Turkey and addressed to seven actual churches of that time. John forwards letters from Christ Himself, letters that include commendation, criticism, and comfort. Some of what He tells them is applicable to me. For instance:

I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. (Revelation 2:3–4)

When I read this, I have to examine myself. Do I love God and love others as much as I did when Christ first touched my life? I hope so, yet need to continue reading these admonitions and making sure I obey them.

After these seven letters is a long series of visions of judgment on the wicked. The language is highly symbolic but the ending is clear. Despite the violence and stress, Jesus wins. He triumphs as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (19:16), brings an end to sinful rebellion and establishes “a new heaven and a new earth” (21:1), where God himself will reign forever and ever (11:15). This is the climax of our redemption and God’s purpose — which He is . . . 

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:9–10)

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

In last night’s conversation, I kept going back to this final outcome. The promises of God are certain. No matter the years of ups and downs in worldly politics, prosperity and wars, Jesus will return and establish His kingdom. No one knows the day or the hour, but we do have the promises.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power . . . (Hebrews 1:1–3)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, I’m at peace even in this troubled world because I know that You are not stumped by it, nor thwarted. Human rule rises and falls yet You have a plan and that plan will be fulfilled. You are God who does not fail. Your Word upholds the universe and what You say has the power to bring us first to our knees and then to our feet in a victory of worshiping You forever.