Observing the citizenship oath ceremony today, I noticed the joy and excitement of the 400 plus folks from various backgrounds. The thrill they exhibited after the oath was overwhelming. Husbands hugging newly naturalized wives, children kissing newly naturalized parents, the scene of such precious moments could put one to tears. I am quite certain that many of these folks could tell you long tales of their process in becoming a US citizen. Some of these tales may entail plenty of hardship, suffering, poverty, persecutions and other tantalizing experiences. The cost of a US citizenship definitely comes with a heavy price tag (not just in monetary value) for some of these folks, including my husband, pertaining to the time and money (for lawyers) we spent on his citizenship.
Though it is widely objected by much of the world nowadays, I would still undoubtfully argue that being an American citizen is one of the utmost honors one could ever have on this earth. It is so well illuminated in the song by Lee Greenwood “And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free…I’d thank my lucky stars, to be livin here today. ‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can’t take that away..” It is no wonder that so many people sacrifice so much to become naturalized American citizens and/or have their children become the rightful citizens born in the United States. The freedom that comes with the citizenship, as highlighted by Lee Greenwood, is worth all the investment these naturalized citizens made.
There is, however, another kind of citizenship that could guarantee so much more than an American citizenship. It not only comes with liberty for the rest of your life, but it also provides a perfect destination after your life journey ends—Heaven. It is the citizenship in Christ. And the price tag is—FREE! Jesus Christ paid for it on the cross 2000 plus years ago.
Phil 3:20-21
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Being an American means you are free from the grip of tyranny, from the dictatorship of any demagogue. In fact, the freedom that comes with American citizenship is illustrated in black and white in the Bills of Right—the freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press and arms. Being a citizen in Christ elicits something even more powerful that all those freedoms. Citizenship in Christ offers the ultimate freedom—the freedom from sins, or being free from the imprisonment of one’s sinful nature. And, should I mention again that you will be guaranteed a place in Heaven after death?
You say that there is no free lunch. What is the catch in this citizenship in Christ deal? When one swears in as an American citizen, one will have to relinquish his/her allegiance to one’s indigenous country or citizenship of birth. Today during the ceremony, when the matron of the ceremony read through the list of the candidates’ countries of origin, a man loudly pronounced that Palestine was omitted. When being told that US did not recognize Palestine as a country, the man still insisted he was from Palestine. Though he went ahead with the oath to ceremonially denounce his loyalty to his previous “country,” I as a spectator couldn’t help but to be skeptical of his professed loyalty to his new country. Likewise, becoming a citizen in Christ would require one to deny his loyalty to this carnal world, not just verbally but wholeheartedly.
Nonetheless, that is really not a catch but rather a “buy one get one free” kind of deal. You see, once you take on the citizenship in Christ, Christ Himself will give you the guidance, power and strength to separate from this world while living in it. It is something that can only be achieved supernaturally.
Well, No brainer isn’t it? Free from sin, heaven, and “supernatural” power, and no price tag attached, could any country offers citizenship better than this? All we have to do is to hold out our hands and take this FREE gift. Isn’t the citizenship in Christ PERFECT?
Article originally posted on
http://www.helium.com/tm/457192/trumping-american-citizenship-perfect
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5 comments:
Wow....deeper!!...
You are a talented writer. I enjoy your post. Your writing really brings out your own realness and emotion of what you have been through. Yes I hold the same heavenly citizenship as you.
It's hard to find writings like yours. It's refreshing and a good read even though I don't share the same viewpoints.
AMEN Sister! Could not have said it any better.
Still a wow..after a second time..
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