Today is the big day in Jacksonville when my wife Galina becomes a citizen of the United States of America. To our friends who have been following our saga we want to express our most sincere thanks for your prayers and words of encouragement and other help.
When you make a change in your citizenship, it is one of those monumental life-changing experiences. You feel like there is no turning back. Just a few hours ago, with love for her new country, Galina called her Mama in Ukraine and asked one more time what she thought about her becoming a citizen of America. As a teenage girl, Mama helped the Soviet Red Army fight off the brutal Nazi war machine. She told Galina not to have even one second thought - become a good citizen of America.
Those of us blessed by God to have been born in this wonderful country, seldom get a glimpse into what is required on the part of someone coming to our country. We have many mixed opinions in our society about immigrants. Some Americans do not want any more people to enter our country – legally or illegally. God-fearing people generally agree that aliens must be treated equitably and with respect when they come to live among us. Several thousand years ago, God gave this law to His people Israel through Moses: "Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt." (Exodus 23:9 NIV) In the final analysis, we have a soft spot for the poor, tired and the oppressed that come to our shores yearning for refuge and freedom to pursue lawful dreams.
At the Naturalization Oath Ceremony, a person changes their status from Permanent Resident (Green Card) to a naturalized citizen. The INS authorities require new citizens to give up all old passports. A person does not become a citizen until they take the oath. The new citizens declare their attachment to the United States and the Constitution. Here is the Oath of Allegiance:
I hereby declare , on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.
When we lived without any acknowledgement of God in our lives, we were aliens without any privileges as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. (Colossians 1:21NIV) Our unforgiven sins separate us from our loving God. We must acknowledge that we are sinners in need of forgiveness. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. (Col. 1:22 NIV)
There is a sense in which we are aliens in this physical world when we live as disciples of Christ the Lord. Christians have a responsibility that comes along with our freedom in Christ to live above the more popular evils of this world. It does not mean we think we are better than everyone else is, it just means we are devoted to our King Jesus and want to obey his commandments. The apostle Peter wrote: Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:11-12 NIV)
I urge you today to become a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Accept Christ Jesus as your Lord. Repent of your sins, confess your faith in the crucified, buried and risen Lord, and be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Become attached to the Church, and never look back.
You are invited to attend the services of the Church of Christ at the corner of 3rd and E Streets. Write me with any questions or comments David Binkley, Sr., P.O. Box 186, Cedar Key, FL 32625 or E-mail at dgbinkley@aol.com. You may also request to receive the daily WORD OF THE DAY by e-mail. Check out our web site at www.cedarkeychurchofchrist.com. | 