I have been thinking a lot lately about the reality of living my life from the perspective of just one, universal government. I am a citizen of the United States of America and it offers me tremendous opportunity, but there is another government that I believe in that has been around since the beginning of time. It is God’s Kingdom. It has become much more real to me than the government of which I am a citizen by natural birth. It brings me continual righteousness, peace and joy. I have been a citizen of that Kingdom ever since I was born again back in November, 1964. His Kingdom is not a democracy so I don’t get to vote about how it functions. Its abiding principles are grace and truth. His justice is fair and impartial. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, He offers mercy and forgiveness for the many laws I have broken. By abiding in Christ, I am free to love everyone, regardless of their political views. I am able to take this sinful world as it is and trust God to make it right according to the way He sees that it needs to be fixed. By focusing on God’s Kingdom I can choose responsibility over rights, kindness over meanness and faith over fear. Yes, I do believe that I will focus only on being a good citizen of His Kingdom for the rest of my life and live the best I can as an obedient disciple of Jesus Christ.
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, 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.”
Philippians 3:20-21
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20