Our True Citizenship

by Patrick D. Odum

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)

Nuno Vasconcellos always seemed like a model citizen to his neighbors in Austin, Texas. He was a living, breathing example of the American dream. He served in the Army, fought to recover from serious head injuries that took away most of his memories prior to 1985, endured poverty and homelessness, and somehow found the time to start a multimillion dollar business. But model citizen? No. Not exactly. Nuno's not an American citizen.

This came back to haunt him on August 6, 2003. Nuno, his wife Angela, and their two children were passing through immigration at Boston's Logan Airport after a visit to Nuno's family in the Azores. Suddenly, a computer threw up a red flag beside Nuno's name. As an anti-terrorism measure, the computers had recently been linked with criminal data bases. Years earlier, Nuno had been charged with kidnapping and placed on some kind of probation for ten years. The charge stemmed from a confrontation with an employee of one of his tire stores who had stolen equipment to feed a cocaine habit. Nuno had lured him to the store, tied him to a chair, and forced him to confess before calling the police. The judge in his case had placed him on probation without finding him guilty.

Had Nuno been a citizen, this old charge would have been long forgotten. As a resident alien, however, the laws applying to him were more stringent. As long as he remained in the country, there was no problem. But, having left the USA, he was now effectively reapplying for admission. When the charge came up on the computer screen, Nuno was shackled and taken to Boston's Suffolk County jail. Deportation proceedings began.

Fortunately, Nuno's lawyer was able to get before a judge and point to Nuno's military commendations, reference letters from his church, business associates, and charity work. He was also able to explain the circumstances surrounding the "kidnapping" case. The judge immediately ordered that Nuno be released and returned to his home. All's well that ends well for Nuno! Not surprisingly, Nuno has applied for citizenship. He did it while he was in jail.

Citizenship has its privileges. That's certainly true in America where citizens have some rights that non-citizens don't and also don't have many of the headaches that non-citizens do. Paul, a Roman citizen, knew something about the privileges of citizenship too. "But our citizenship is in heaven," he reminded the Christians in Philippi. Still important words to remember for those of us who claim belief in Jesus.

Please don't misunderstand what I'm about to say. I love America. I appreciate the privileges of living here. I feel loyalty and patriotism. Even when I disagree with our policies or see our imperfections, it's with a lover's eye and a desire for us to be better. But lest my loyalties get confused, I have to remind myself that I am, first and foremost, a citizen of heaven. My true homeland is God's country, not the United States. When I allow national pride to overtake and co-opt my faith, then my loyalties are mislaid. When patriotism dulls my spiritual senses as to make me blind and deaf to evil and corruption in my nation, then my allegiances have gotten entangled. When I mindlessly adopt the customs and attitudes and values of America without first holding them up to the searching gaze of the Spirit, then I have failed to be true to the land of my new birth.

We are citizens of heaven. And we're waiting for a Savior from the same place, a "hometown hero" who has "the power to bring everything under his control" -- including our "lowly bodies." These weak, imperfect clumps of flesh and bone, rampant desires, and stubborn wills are going to be changed one day. When our Savior comes, he will transform us. Our sin, weakness, and lack of vision will be replaced by his righteousness, his strength, and his vision. When he comes to bring everything under his control, he will recognize us as his fellow citizens of heaven.

That's why it's important for us to be loyal and to never forget, even while we live this life on this earth, where our true homeland is. Too many people think "getting into heaven" is all about doing the same thing that Nuno was forced to do last summer: pointing to all their good deeds to justify why they belong. "See, I went to church. I gave. I prayed. I read my Bible. I know the plan of salvation. I helped others." But if your loyalties are declared, you don't have to worry about being stopped at the border. It will not be necessary to convince anyone of your value to the realm. You will be recognized as a citizen of heaven and treated accordingly.

Only Jesus can make a person into a citizen of heaven. When you put your trust in him, you receive your new citizenship. If you can point to a process of bringing your life under his jurisdiction, then you are one of heaven's citizens. So live as one. Make no apologies for your loyalties. Wear the colors of your native land proudly. Live by heaven's values in whatever place you currently reside. Make your home and church into little colonies of your heavenly homeland. You don't have to be hostile to those whose citizenship is elsewhere; in fact, the policy of your King is that you should be loving. But, you can't be like them. You don't have to be different for the sake of being different, but you shouldn't fit in all that well, either. After all, your citizenship is to another homeland.

We can't live any longer as if we have no memory of where our homeland is. The scriptures remind us of who we are and where we belong. The Spirit of God living in us sings the songs of our heavenly homeland.

When our Savior comes and it's time for us to see our home, may we not be strangers. Until then, let's carry a picture of our homeland in our hearts. May it be as familiar as our own backyard. May we be ready when our "hometown hero" comes!

Posted: 12/03/2003
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200312/20031203_citizenship.html

(c) 2003 Patrick D. Odum <p.d.odum@gmail.com>.

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