Love of Country

Photo by Standard221

July 4th is the day when we celebrate the independence of our nation here in the United States. There is nothing wrong with feeling proud of your nation. St. Paul was willing (when it was to his advantage) to boast that he was a roman citizen (Acts of the Apostles 22.25 - 28). Even Jesus is known to have attended the Feast of Dedication (Gospel of John 10.22), an 8 day national holiday celebrating the retaking of Jerusalem by Jewish soldiers in 165 BC. Today it's known as Hanukkah.

But the Christian Movement has always had to remember that really, we don't belong here anymore. We are aliens. God's Kingdom is a real nation, not just a pleasant religious concept. When push comes to shove, the Messiah Jesus, King of the universe, is who we pledge our truest allegiance to.

But the government that rules us is in heaven. We are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from there. He will change our humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body. Christ can do this by his power, with which he is able to rule everything.

Letter to the Philippians 3.20-21, ERV