Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Philippians 3:20 By: Greg Cary

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20 (We recommend reading the entire chapter)

  It seems that Citizens of Planet Earth are selfishly territorial.  Spend enough time in the ocean and chances are a shark will try to make a meal of you, spend enough time hiking in Deukmejian and an unnerving mountain lion or bear encounter becomes probable.  “Those wild animals!” we say with a civilized tone…… but go to Music in the Park six hours in advance and you will see people putting up caution tape to mark their territory for later.  Where money or prestige is involved it gets even messier – What If I live west of Pennsylvania Avenue am I a Citizen of Glendale only or can I say I’m from La Crescenta? If I could just live North of Foothill, maybe people would finally accept me!  How about the children living in the Sagebrush Area should they really be in La Crescenta Schools or La Canada?  If you are a Dodger fan and want coffee and cookies at the LCPC Party in the Breezeway you will be forced to mingle with a few of those Cubs fans.  Good or bad, innocent or not, it seems that we Citizens of Planet Earth are selfishly territorial!

  So, if that conversation was all about Citizens of Planet Earth what about Citizens of Heaven? Are we who know Christ as Savior selfishly territorial about our Heavenly Citizenship?......or do we eagerly invite and invest in all who are willing to listen to the gospel of God’s love and mercy? 

  The story is told of a Canadian gospel preacher back in the middle of the last century who was going to take an over-seas trip.  He walked into the Yugoslavian embassy and spoke to the ambassador’s deputy about travel to Yugoslavia.  By the time the preacher left the Embassy he was greatly energized about leading people to Christ and a Heavenly Citizenship based on three observations he made of the ambassador’s deputy:
1.) He spoke enthusiastically of his home country
2.) He faithfully laid out entry requirements, and
3.) His speech gave away his citizenship. 

  We too have been deputized as ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20) and as we let our light shine today let’s remember that there is only one thing we can take with us to Heaven - the people around us!

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  John 14:2-3
 
 
 

1 comment:

  1. Hi There, I just spent a little time reading through your posts. Please continue to write more because it’s unusual that someone has something interesting to say about this. Will be waiting for more!

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