The choice of citizenship

 

1.      Choice of citizenship

Another critical choice we all have to make especially as believers is the choice between being a citizen of the kingdom light and being a citizen in the kingdom of darkness. Now since it is the kingdom of darkness that governs this world and those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light as clearly stated by the apostle Paul who wrote; “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14),

Therefore, since we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light and our citizenship is no longer on earth but it is now in heaven we are to continually make the choice as to where our loyalty is because, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).

So although we are duly admonished saying; “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not terrors to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same:’

“For he is God's minister to you for good, but if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:1-7).

Nevertheless, this is applicable only as long as the laws and the living principles of God are not violated or compromised, if under any circumstances the laws and principles of God are compromised or violated we ought to take a similar stand like Peter and the other apostles by saying; “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

As citizens of the kingdom of light although we are in the world but at the same time we are not of the world as confirmed by Jesus Christ in His prayer to the Father saying; “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-16).

Our role therefore as citizens of the kingdom of light is to fulfill the role of Ambassadors as we have been duly admonished saying; “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)..

And so like all ambassadors our official duty is to represent the kingdom of God here on earth but not to be involved in the political affairs of the country where we reside as ambassadors.

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To be continued 

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph