Devotionals

Good Citizens Or Good Strangers Of This World?

by ABRAHAM PULICKAL
05/30/19
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Good Citizens Or Good Strangers Of This World?

Having being born in this earth, our strivings and pursuits are often limited to earthly things so we may all the more glorify this earthly abode, a good home, car, financial stability, education and many other similar goals, yet do we think beyond this life, or are we amongst those who believe in “Who cares?”.

All that we are, we are supposed to live for eternity, even though all that we have in this world will either be exhausted or left away, yet the precious soul of ours will truly live for eternity.

We may be citizens of a particular country and may be good citizens, having no track record of evil or crime, yet are we truly able to sink ourselves with the existing norms, cultures, trends, traditions and all permissible deeds?

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20 NKJV

Paul confirms the citizenship of heaven for all those who are true believers and live in Godly ways. Often the ways of the world are contrary to that of God’s and in such a scenario, we need to make a choice to continue to be a good citizen or a good stranger in this earth. In the case of adherence to any such rule or act which endangers our citizenship in heaven, we should choose to be obedient to our heavenly calling to be Christ like.

May the example in the book of Daniel of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego encourage us, for when the rule was set out to worship the image, they chose not to do so and thus glorified God.

The world continues in its allurements and sinful offers, where there are countries where sin is legalized by the state and adherence to it is encouraged, non-participation may either lead to seclusion or revolt against the state legalized entertainments, would we choose to remain holy?

We can avoid and run away from a toxic smoky atmosphere, yet when this atmosphere spreads itself to everywhere we live in, we will unknowingly inhale it and hurt ourselves, our attempt to remain holy in this world smeared with toxic and sinful ways may be considered crazy by those who enjoy this and who we know are wasting away.

The world hated Jesus and this is the reason why..

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19 NKJV

The Lord prayed for all who follow Him to be as He is..

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:16 NKJV

Many faithful’s of the Lord have chosen to do right…

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”  Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV

The Word of God encourages us also to be so…

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,” 1 Peter 2:11 NKJV

Peter in the above verse not only encourages us, rather strongly pleads to be strangers in this world, thus not losing our blessed citizenship in heaven.

For sure we will live beyond this world, yet where will be decided by the citizenship we keep, for a dual citizenship concept does not work here.

Let’s choose to be heavenly citizens and earthy strangers and glorify our blessed Lord always.

God Bless.