Our Citizenship

November 29

We live in an expansive country that stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Although a commercial airliner can traverse the land in a matter of three hours, the journey of the pioneers who originally explored and settled this nation required months of arduous travel. Why did they do it?

What motivated them to brave the cold, the deprivation, the attack of unfriendly tribes who saw them as intruders who’d come to steal their land? There were many motivating factors—some negative, some positive—from a desire to tap into the wealth of the land to a yearning to share Christ with native Americans.

One undeniable reason held by many who bore great hardship to help expand the borders of this nation was national pride—a great love of America. There were people who left their homelands to become citizens of this country who eagerly embraced their adoptive country and all she stands for. Their sons fought and died in several wars for her and the freedom she extends to those who cherish liberty.

The Jewish people, too, have a deep love for the land God has given to them. It began with Joseph, who, when he was expelled from his country by his brothers who sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:27) received the blessing of his father prior to his death that would bring him back to the land of his birth.

Joseph had been sold from his homeland but elevated in Egypt, yet he embraced the prayer of his father in Genesis 48:21, “Look! I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.” We might think he’d prefer to remain in the land where he’d been made second in command, with Pharaoh receiving all his counsel, but he yearned after his homeland.

We who are followers of Jesus, no matter our national heritage, no matter from what nation our ancestors came forth, no matter our financial or political status, all yearn for our heavenly home. As the Word tells us, we are “strangers and sojourners” I Chronicles 29:15 on earth, and as such, we know our time here is brief and we do not cling to it.

For when we have received Jesus as Savior and King, we have a new citizenship! As Paul said in Ephesians 2:19, “We are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." We finally have a permanent home, and it is in Heaven with the Savior who conquered death so we might dwell eternally with Him.