NATURALIZATION

What is naturalization? It is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen in a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. There are numerous reasons why one would desire to be a citizen of a country other than one’s country of origin.  They could range from seeking better opportunities to getting away from persecution, seeking asylum, or marrying someone from that country.  

No matter the country, certain criteria have to be met to be granted citizenship. In addition to requirements for naturalization, there are responsibilities that come with citizenship.  When I became a citizen of the United States, I was admonished to exercise my voting rights to affect changes that will help America continue to be the great country it has been.  

     

Naturalization requirements can be very stringent, and requests are not always granted. Requests get turned down if criteria are not met. There is, however, one country where the requirement for citizenship is straightforward; there is no hassle, and no one is ever turned away, unless they try to come in through a back door other than the prescribed opened door. In fact, all are invited and encouraged to come, and are all welcomed. The requirements are the same for each person, regardless of their background. Politics and partiality play no part in this process. People of all nationalities, cultures, and languages; the educated, illiterate, sick, healthy, rich, poor, male female, adult, and child are all welcomed. As you can see, no one willing to come is turned away. That country is heaven, and the Maker, Founder, King, and Lord of that country is God Almighty.

Why are we invited to seek citizenship elsewhere? Because our current countries of origin are all temporary and full of evil, strife and woe, hatred, wars, and diseases; besides, they will all pass away sooner or later. Only the city built by God will last through eternity. This city is not an ordinary city built by human hands; it is built by God, and its streets are made of gold, like transparent glass, and its gates are made of pearls, and illuminated by the glory of God (see Revelation 21:22-23), and “He (God) will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 NLT). The apostle Paul describes it this way: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT).

For a place this magnificent, one would expect the entry requirements to be very tough to meet, but they are rather very simple and straightforward: First and foremost, an applicant must be a sinner, seeking forgiveness of sins and freedom from the power of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Anyone who does not have the need to be forgiven does not qualify to apply.  An applicant has to understand that he or she is a sinner and needs a Savior.  Once a person is forgiven, he or she becomes a citizen of heaven, in training on earth. 

 The training continues until God decides it is time to go and enjoy citizenship to its fullest. Jesus comforted His disciples by saying to them, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:2-3 NLT). Nothing will disqualify anyone who has been granted citizenship, because the Bible tells us, “Now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death” (Romans 8:1-2 NLT).

While here on earth, our responsibility is to maintain fellowship with our Father through prayer, reading and studying the Word, and working at being more and more like Jesus every day, evidenced by the way we behave and interact with society. Also, while we are still here, we have the responsibility to encourage and build up others who are also on their way to the magnificent city, and to help those who are not to understand how urgently they need to naturalize. When we finally relocate to heaven, we will see our Father face to face (see 1 Corinthians 13:12); and we will be with Him forever (see 1 Thessalonians 4:17). 

GOD’S TRUTH IS THE ONLY TRUTH

Truth is defined as that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality. There is something very refreshing and freeing about truth, because it does not change. Truth is non-negotiable; it is not affected by peoples’ view of it, and it does not take other positions into consideration; it stands alone. If it took other positions into consideration, there’d be no truth; it will cease to exist, and sadly, there’ll be only conflicting ideas that lead to chaos.  Consequently, there will be no need for law enforcement of any kind in society; everyone will be free to live out his or her own truth. What a messy world that would be! 

The Bible says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1 NIV). Will this fact change because someone insists there is no God? Of course not! If a child says to his parents, “You are not my parents,” would that change the fact that they really are, and could produce documents to prove it? Certainly not!

If you live on planet earth, anywhere in the world, you belong to God, and it behooves you to listen to what He says. One of the most basic things He wants us to pay attention to, has to do with our relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus. In reference to Jesus, the Bible says, “To those who believed in His (Jesus) name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:14 NIV). Do you believe in His name? Until you believe in Him, you are not His child; you are His creation, and of course, you are free to disagree with His claim of ownership on your life.

If you do not wish to be a child of God, then you are all set; you don’t have to do anything different from what you are already doing. On the other hand, if you’d like to be a child of God, you’ll need to ask God for forgiveness of your sin through Jesus. Disagreeing with this process of adoption is very unproductive, because disagreement is not an acceptable excuse for unbelief. It won’t exempt you from accountability. It will only place you in the category of unbelief for which the consequence is already spelled out. It goes like this, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18 NIV). 

God is Truth; He does not change, and He does not take His words back (see Malachi 3:6, Isaiah 31:2). So we are the ones who need to change. Our way of thinking needs to come into alignment with His Word. If He says our relationship with Him will be restored only through faith in Jesus, then that is the only way to go. Please don’t waste time going around in circles, and coming up with seemingly-cute arguments, because His Word will never change to accommodate your unbelief and disobedience. You are free to choose what you want to believe, but also, be aware that what God says is final! Time is running out; do it God’s way by placing your faith in Jesus today for salvation! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). Which would you choose, perishing or eternal life? I encourage you to choose eternal life through by placing faith in Jesus, today!

MOTHERS

In general, mothers have the responsibility of caring for their families, and to raise their children to be responsible citizens. The Christian mother’s role however, goes beyond that. She is empowered by the Holy Spirit to also raise God-fearing children, by biblical instruction, and also by example.

King Lemuel’s mother, mentioned in Proverbs 31:1 instructed her son on godliness, but she also lived an exemplary life.  She was God –fearing, hardworking, generous and kind, industrious, trustworthy, and never idle.

In addition, a Christian mother has the privilege and the responsibility of praying with, and for her children. Being able to move the hand of God in the lives of our children is truly a wonderful privilege that all mothers should embrace, and take seriously.

Moses instructed the Israelites on how to handle the Word of God: “Commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your foreheads as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish …” (Deuteronomy 11:18-21 NLT).

What an amazing responsibility! It even comes with a promise—that the family will flourish! A mother cannot retire from the responsibilities of motherhood, no matter how old her children get. We might not be able to instruct them, but we can and should encourage and pray for them and their families. Until we each take our last breath we will be on prayer duty! In addition, we can adopt spiritual children and pray for them as well.

Mothers, God bless you for all you do, both seen and in secret. May our children arise and call us blessed! Happy Mother’s Day!  

DROP YOUR STONE IF YOU ARE A SINNER

The Jewish leaders were always trying to find reasons to accuse Jesus. They always came up with questions they thought were so controversial that His answers would trap Him or back Him into a corner. On one such occasion, they brought a woman to Him who was supposedly caught in adultery.  Their question was, “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.  Now what do you say?” (John 8:5 NIV). Jesus’ response was, “Let him who have no sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7 NIV). His response was straight to the point; they did not need any explanation or interpretation.  Although He didn’t, Jesus could have concluded His response by saying, “But let him who has any sin drop his stone.” That of course would have been every last one of them. Although He didn’t, they each walked away without casting a single stone at the woman. 

How about you, and how about me? Are we throwing stones at other sinners while we are not batting an eye about our own sins? Sin is sin, no matter how we categorize it. You and I have not been given the responsibility or authority to decide which sin should be tolerated, and which one should be punished. Let us stop judging and pointing fingers at others. When the Bible says: the wages of sin is death (see Romans 3:23), it does not differentiate one sin from the other. According to 1 John 3:4, “Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God” (NLT). Sin is sin!

Our charge concerning others is to love them as ourselves (see Matthew 19:19), and to win them for the kingdom of God (Matthew 28:19-20); our responsibility is not to pass judgment.

In the book of Luke, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned (see Luke 6:37); “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Luke 6:41 NIV). If Jesus, the only righteous One, with the power and authority to judge and condemn shows mercy (Jn 8:10-11), who are we to be judging and condemning?

Showing mercy does not mean condoning. We can, and should come along side each other in love, to rebuke, encourage, and build up. The apostle Paul puts it this way, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently” (Galatians 6:1 NIV). So fellow sinners, let us all drop our stones!