In the news, we have been hearing a lot about those who are in this country illegally. There is also talk of having them become citizens by a faster and easier means than others have obtained citizenship into this country. You might have your own thoughts about these matters and they might be right or wrong.
We also hear many who are stating there is a lot wrong with our country. With all the problems, why are there people try and striving to come into this country? Why do those who think that Americans are worth killing when some of their own countrymen work so hard at coming into this country and obtaining legal citizenship. These are interesting questions and thoughts and there might be many, many more that could be discussed around a cup of coffee. While we think of these things concerning our civil state what about the spiritual?
In Philippians 3:20 we find these words written by Paul by inspiration, “For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (AVS). Then in another place we find, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). If we are going to have our citizenship in heaven we must be part of the kingdom of God. Jesus talked about those who would enter into the sheepfold another way: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1). Thus these people are illegal alien in the kingdom of God and have no rights to claim citizenship in that kingdom. They have none of the benefits of being a citizen in the kingdom of God! They might claim long and loud that they are citizens in the kingdom of God but God has declared the way of entrance and if any one strives to side step around the law is a thief and a robber. They do not and will not receive the benefits of those who are citizens in the kingdom.
Someone might say that there are benefits that everyone does receive. Yes that is true and the Bible teaches that, “…for hemaketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). But this does not mean that they have all the benefits that God has to offer. One must be in the kingdom legally to get all the benefits of the kingdom of God or being a citizen in that kingdom. There are some who expect God to hear their prayers and accept their worship who are not in the kingdom, who think they are in the kingdom but are illegal. They have not done what God has required of them to be in the kingdom and thus are illegal. God will not accept their prayers or their worship. Peter quotes an Old Testament passage in 1 Peter 3:12 which states. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayer: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” The man that was blind from his birth stated something every similar, “Not we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth” (John 9:31). There are not true benefits outside of Christ.
When Paul is discussing those who are outside of Christ, this is what the Holy Spirit told him to pen, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). During the context of the passage just sited there is stated that we “are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (verse 13). When we do contact the blood of Christ to have our sins washed away we are then “…fellowcitizen with the saints and the household of God” (Verse 19).
It is sad to think that there are those who truly believe that they are citizens in the kingdom of God but are not. They have strove to enter in another way than Jesus. Thus Jesus calls them thief and a robber. They would be offended at being called that because they truly believe they have done what God has said to enter into the kingdom correctly. That is why it is so necessary for us to continually God’s Word. That is why we must put forth that constant and careful effort of knowing what God has for us to do.
One person might be a citizen of the kingdom but he has no right to set aside the legal ways of becoming a citizen. I am a citizen of the United States of America, you are too, but we have no right to set aside the laws of citizenship. We might get to know a person who wants to be a citizen of the United States, we might like them and think highly of them, but we have no right to set aside the laws. We can help them and assist them in becoming a citizen but we have no right to set aside the laws of becoming a citizen. The same is true of becoming a citizen of the kingdom of God. We might have family and we might have some very close friends that think they are in the kingdom of God, but that does not make them citizens! They must become a citizens in the correct way. We ought to assist them in any way we can. We can encourage them to become citizens but we cannot do it for them, they must do it for themselves and they must do it lawfully.
But also what about us who are citizens, do we take the benefits of citizenship for granted? We can do that with our citizenship in the United States of America, we can also do this with our citizenship in the kingdom of God. How can we do this? Many, many way is the correct answer, but you might want specific, pointed answers to this question. Do you take the privilege of worship for granted? When you have the opportunity to do so, but let little things keep you from worship, you are taking worship for granted. The privilege of prayer; how often do you pray? Do you talk to God often? Do you lay the burdens of life at the Cross and leave them there? Here are benefits of being in the kingdom what are you doing with them?
Love, Keith
