Issue 1487 – O Canada – July 1, 2024
Today, we celebrate the 157th anniversary of Confederation. Happy Canada Day!
I remember celebrating Canada’s Centennial. We even had a special song. That seems like a lifetime ago.
My family has lived here since the early 1600s, long before the country was formed. I am proud to call myself a Canadian. It’s my first choice for citizenship. I would opt for a couple of others if I couldn’t be a Canadian, but I don’t have to make that choice.
The fact that I am a proud Canadian doesn’t mean I agree with everything our government does, that I agree with some of the things that many Canadians want, or that I am blind to our inconsistencies and problems.
There are plenty of ways we could improve individually and nationally. Still, I am blessed to call Canada my home.
Having said that, I am even more grateful for my other citizenship.
As a follower of Jesus, I am a citizen of heaven. I haven’t been there yet, but I have an irrevocable citizenship.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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. Philippians 3:20-21
Canada could cease to exist, and the entire world as we know it might be destroyed, but my true eternal citizenship would stay secure.
I didn’t choose my birthplace and citizenship. They were granted because my parents were Canadian and birthed me here. My heavenly citizenship was granted because God called me, and by His grace, I was saved by faith in Jesus. He paid the entry fee to allow me to enter that kingdom.
As Christians, we often think that we will “get to heaven” when we die. That’s true to a point. Yet, our citizenship in God’s kingdom commenced the moment I became a believer. My place was secured before I was ever conceived of.
Even though I am still a Canadian citizen, I can start to live as a citizen of heaven. I cannot experience it fully yet, but the time will come. That’s a blessing for all believers.
There will come a time when every believer from every age, tribe, tongue, nation, and culture will come together as one. It won’t matter what our earthly citizenship was.
We will be united in Spirit and presence to worship the King of kings and Lord of Lords. What a celebration that will be.
I can hardly wait. What about you?
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)