This past week I had the wonderful opportunity of joining my son and his 8th grade class on a 5 day field trip to Washington, D.C. Two of those days consisted of twelve of us chaperones riding in two tour buses from Central Florida all the way to D.C. with approximately seventy fourteen year olds. We had a blast. Although, if I were to do it again I would much prefer to fly. This gave us three very full and fast days to tour the various highlights of this amazing city. What really stood out to me were the various war memorials: World War II, Iwo Jima, Korean War, and Vietnam pictured below in that order.
I came away with a much greater appreciation for the price that was paid so that I could live in this country of peace and amazing prosperity. It is hard to walk away from our nation’s capitol and not feel more patriotic. There is a great sense of pride in knowing that I am a citizen of the United States of America. I am not under the delusion that we live in a perfect country or that our country is a Christian nation nor one nation under God as much as I would like it to be. We are not a nation without significant problems yet I truly believe that I am greatly blessed to have been born into this country. I am also aware that being born an American, with such great prosperity, also comes with great responsibility.
This past Sunday I preached from Philippians 1:20-30 about the Win/Win situation that we are in as Christians where for us every day that we have breath is an opportunity to serve God in this great adventure of life. At the same time when we breath our last breath we will experience great gain, not because we might be a citizen of America but, because of being a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven through the work of Jesus Christ on my behalf. One verse that spoke volumes to me after having visited our nation’s capital and gaining a greater appreciation for being a citizen of this country are Paul’s words in Philippians 1:27, “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. . . .” (NLT) When I step through death’s door my status as a citizen of the United States of America will no longer be important. The kingdom of heaven will be the eternal home for all of God’s people regardless of gender, race, education, economic, or any other distinctions that are so important to us in this life. Therefore, while we await that day when we will all be together for eternity we are now to live first and foremost as citizens of the heavenly kingdom in this world or as Paul said, “To live is Christ.” As Christians we should be exemplary citizens in this world no matter what country we may call home. When we live as citizens of the Kingdom of God we bring a piece of heaven to this world. We are immensely blessed to be citizens of the kingdom of God and with this blessing also comes great responsibility. As 1 Peter 2:9-11 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (NLT)
3 Comments
April 23, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Mike,
I enjoyed listening to your sermon on line. Phil 1:21 is a life verse for me. It was that verse that called me, as a youth, into full time Christian service. As time goes by, and more family and friends go on to be the with Lord, the idea of Earth is not my home, becomes more meaningful.
You said, “When we live as citizens of the Kingdom of God we bring a piece of heaven to this world.” This should be our prayer daily. I like the idea of bringing a little souvenier from Heaven to Earth through our life!
>)(<
April 25, 2008 at 11:11 am
Linda,
It’s great to hear from you. I’m glad that you found the blog and even the sermons on the church’s website. Doing the sermon and then the blog has helped me to appreciate this passage even more as a Win/Win situation. I like the way that you put it “a little souvenir from Heaven.”
April 28, 2008 at 10:17 am
Mike,
GREAT blog & sermon. God does wonderful things through you. Thank you for continuing to challenge my spirit to grow in faith, compassion & most importantly love.