This means that I can enter the country as a resident, not a tourist, that I can live here as long as I want, and that I am allowed to work. Woo hoo! Now that the paperwork and everything has gone through, I am also able to take a German "Integration" course for free. It will be about 600 hours, and will cover everything from the language to German politics and traffic laws, etc. So the next year will be full of a lot of learning! It's a little nerve-wracking, but I'm thankful that the authorities want to help me integrate into this culture and equip me for life here.
This whole process has brought to my mind the reality of another citizenship I have. Actually, a citizenship that you have too:
{"Our citizenship is in heaven."}
Philippians 3:20
It's a biblical principle that this earth is not actually our home! If we belong to Christ and are following Him, we are only here visiting :-) In the "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews chapter 11, the author writes that these heroes of the faith "admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth" (Hebrews 11:13). It's hard to live in this reality, because this world can be pretty deceiving and it's easy to feel at home in it. But the fact is - we were created for something more. We have heavenly DNA, and one day even our physical bodies will be transformed to match our new identity.
But even as we are living as strangers in this world - a country not our own - we should be adhering to the principles of the heavenly land where our citizenship actually lies. Just as my immigration in Germany includes both special privileges and responsibilities, so our heavenly citizenship implies that we live and act a certain way. We have the hope of eternal life in our heavenly home, but we also have a life that needs to be lived out here as "aliens" on this earth. An alien doesn't fit. An alien stands out. An alien doesn't belong. And our lives should be like that too. We must be different.
Peter wrote to his friends, "I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul" (1 Peter 2:11). There are desires that we need to fight against, which are not part of our real identity. We ought to to adhere to a heavenly, higher spiritual standard.
But it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, right? Like when I'm driving here in Germany, and go to turn right at a red light (after stopping, of course!) But that's not allowed here. I need to wait for the green turning arrow. But in the only life I've ever known beforehand (Canada), I learned that it was okay to do so (and that other drivers behind you actually get angry if you block the lane by not doing so!) In a similar way, our "old life", our sinful flesh, teaches us that it's fine to be selfish. It's okay to lust (everybody else does it!) You need to lie sometimes. It's impossible to actually love everybody. Self-pity is okay.
But that's why we're told, in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"! Our old ways of thinking and our old patterns of behavior have to go once we accept Jesus as Lord of our life and receive citizenship in heaven. Spiritual guidelines and principles apply instead of earthly standards.
And what are these new responsibilities and privileges? They involve love, not apathy. Peace, not worry. Joy, not discouragement. Patience, not frustration. Kindness, not selfishness. Self-control, not self-indulgence. Mutual submission, not discord. Preferring others, not controlling others. A spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, not a spirit of timidity. A spirit which cries out to God, "Abba, Father!" not a spirit of fear. The power to overcome evil with good, not to be overcome with evil. The authority to live in the abundance that Jesus died to offer, not allowing Satan to steal, kill, and destroy in your life. The strength to rejoice in suffering, because we have a hope beyond this world.
These are the rules and rights of our heavenly citizenship! Sure, it takes learning and adjusting. It takes the "putting to death" of our old ways. It may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable. It may involve more cost in the short-term. But it's worth it in the long term! The Holy Spirit is our Teacher, our Counselor, our Guide, ready to train us in how to live in this new spiritual reality.
Are you living to the full potential of what your heavenly citizenship implies?
Great post, Kristyn!
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