Living as Citizens in a Land Called Gospel….with dual
citizenship on this Earth. We must not forget our true home!
This morning I talked with my roommate (thank you snow day!)
about DJ’s sermon this week and she connected the verses from Philippians to
Hebrews 11:
“These (referring to those who have lived in faith, i.e. Abraham,
Sarah, Abel, Noah, etc.) all died in faith, not having received the things
promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having
acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth…But as it is,
they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (vs.13 and 16)
Throughout DJ’s sermon, I was struck by how the hope of the
coming of our Savior informs so much of our life. Because of our citizenship in
heaven, “we await a Savior who will transform our lowly body to be like his
glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to
himself.” As the hope of the coming of Christ DOMINATES our future, there is NO
ROOM left for our anxieties regarding the future.
I am discouraged by the hopeLESSness of some of my professors
and peers in the face of this political climate. This sermon has helped me to
understand the patterns that I am seeing around me: as Christians, we have dual
citizenship…some perform their duties faithfully in hope of the coming of
Christ, while others set their eyes on earthly things. One gives way to hope,
the other to hopelessness.
Man. READ YOUR BIBLES, PEOPLE! Reid, that has been ringing
in my head constantly. I do not like the tension of dual citizenship, but it
acts as a warning for me, for us, not to become enemies of the cross. Paul and
DJ’s warning rings true in my ears – it is so EASY to become an enemy of the cross.
We let our minds slip to earthly things and we find that we have forsaken our
duties in fear. Lord, correct me when I forget my true home! Even if it hurts
and I don’t welcome the correction, do not let me become an enemy of the cross!
I am so thankful for you all for modelling a Christ-centered
life to me!
Mirm
HOPE!! Yes, Miriam! Thank you for the essential reminder that there is hope in Christ. While I was reading your post, I was reminded of the verse from Colossians 1:27 "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
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