Are you a citizen, or just a pilgrim

Is it appropriate to tell people to turn back to God on this anniversary of 9-11?

Is it unpatriotic to think your nation has no answers? Does it blaspheme the American spirit to believe our allegiance is to God, and only to God, not a man-made country and government?

Do these questions make you angry? Do they?

What about the word of God? Does it give you pause? Do His words make you angry?

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” — Isaiah 46:3-4

Do you read those words and find hope for a nation? Do you quote 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,” and believe a new golden age will dawn upon America? Do you really believe that?

What if I told you those words from 2 Chronicles were written for the state of Israel? What if I told you your zeal for America clouds your relationship with Jesus Christ? Would those words sting on this solemn day of remembrance? Would those words make you angry? Would they?

Instead of taking oaths, looking to worldly leaders and systems of men to save us, how about a change of heart. Here’s a novel thought, look to the God who knows the end from the beginning, the God who freely gave his life for ours on the cross. Reliance upon God is the key; not self-reliance, not reliance upon others, not Oprah, not the latest book on spirituality, but a complete turning over of one’s self to God. That is our key.

At the crossing of the Red Sea, God alone defeated the Egyptian army. Not a weapon of Israel was wielded, God did it all. Surely He would have driven out the Canaanites in similar fashion, but the people lost faith, even after seeing the hand of God work mighty miracles before them.

Instead, they were afraid.

“We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are,” and they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, ‘The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim.) We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked the same to them.’” — Numbers 13:31-33

For their lack of faith God made them wander through the desert for 40 years, until all of that generation was gone.

If only they would have believed, what glorious thing God would have done for them, and they wouldn’t have had to lift a hand.

Our salvation comes the same way. God can do glorious things for us, and we do not have to raise a hand, because Christ did it all at the cross. He paid the penalty for our sin and if we repent and look solely to Christ then we are imparted with citizenship into the Kingdom of God.

We are not granted dual citizenship; we must choose Christ or the world. We can’t be good Christians and good Americans. We have to make a choice, Jesus Christ, or a world of death. Sure, we can be good, law abiding neighbors who pay our taxes and don’t take from others, but we must always remember we are only temporary residents in the land. Our permanent home is with Jesus Christ.

Do these words make your angry? Do these words convict your spirit?

What did Jesus have to say? When he stood before Pilate and was asked about his kingdom, what did Jesus say?

“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” — John 18:36

Jesus was not concerned about Roman politics, he wasn’t concerned with the constant Jewish plotting to get out from under Roman rule. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and to redeem mankind from its sin. On the cross he became the atoning sacrifice required to gain us entry into the kingdom of God.

Do you accept that? Do you?

If not, then what holds you? The word of God is clear. Jesus said man cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve Christ and be a part of this world. If we choose Christ, then we must put to death our sin nature and come out from the world.

As Paul said, we are in the world, but not of the world. We must be living examples of the love Christ gave to us through the cross. If hardship, ridicule and death be our path, then so be it, because our Savior suffered worse for our sake.

As Paul told us in Romans 12:14-21, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another (fellow believers.) Do not be proud, but willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

If we walk through the world with the gospel on our lips and we are hated for it, then we are blessed in the kingdom of God. If you bend under the tyranny the world offers, then stand free at the cross of Christ.

Do these words offer hope? Do they?

Don’t expect national redemption. Don’t expect God to overlook the sins of a nation that turns its back on his gospel.

Instead, be a part of the kingdom that knows no end. Be a patriot of the Kingdom of God and defend it with your life. The world has nothing to offer.

Does what I say make you long for Christ, or does it just make you angry?