Becoming a citizen

I spend a few hours every week working at the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), where English classes, citizenship test preparedness sessions, job skills workshops, and numerous other services are offered to Nashville's immigrant population. I am proud to say that the woman I have been working with for the last several weeks, Gene, became a United States citizen today! This task is extraordinarily difficult and I daresay that a large portion of natural-born Americans could not pass the Question & Answer section. Gene and many other people at the Center have overcome incredible odds and made incredible sacrifices to become citizens and they are so happy to finally achieve their goal. How much greater it is to become a citizen of Heaven!

Philippians 3:20-21

"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."

How do we become citizens of Heaven? Well, let's look at the promises you make to become a citizen of the United States:

1. Support the Constitution of the United States. In the same manner, we should believe in God's word- the Holy Bible- and therefore follow it. God's holy law is designed to lead us to him, fulfill our purpose on this earth, and teach us to do what we were made to do- glorify him.
2. Renounce and abjure absolutely and entirely all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of whom or which the applicant was before a subject or citizen. God is jealous for us. He doesn't want to share us with the world or with any other desire. He wants all of us. He has called us to take our cross daily and follow Christ to the death. Whoever would lose his life for God's sake will save it.
3. Support & defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. II Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. We need to be in the Scriptures doing what it says in order to defend our beliefs against a world that is constantly trying to destroy them.
4. Bear true faith and allegiance to do the same. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." When we become citizens of Heaven we are pledging our faith to God. Not just the same faith as demons, but true and genuine faith that streams from a heart of desire to please God and share his gospel.
5. Bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law. Ephesians 6 tells us that we are in a war "not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." God has provided us with all the necessary equipment to defend his cause so that we may fearlessly enter into battle knowing that we will come out the victor.

Gene is a refugee from Burundi escaping the Rwandan genocide. Today she is an American citizen pursuing her GED and trying to support her 3 children. Her life has changed significantly because she committed to becoming an American. God promises to radically change us if we become citizens of his kingdom. He doesn't say he'll make our lives better. Just like Gene has to pay taxes now, Christians endure trials and persecution for their beliefs. But at the end of our lives Christians will receive a reward far better than any opportunity Gene now has. We will be rewarded for our commitment to God and receive the gift of eternal life with God.

PS: Please pray for Gene as she continues to learn to read and write in English and adapt to her new life as an American citizen.