February 23, 2011 — what a day! I headed to downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, where I would be part of a citizenship ceremony. Did I forget my resident alien’s card? I don’t know how many times I checked to see if I’d brought this important, required document. Plus my other documents — my British passport, marriage certificate — would I need these too? After several unnecessary checks, I was relieved to see that I still had my alien’s card and several other documents I wouldn’t even need. I just wanted to be sure ...
As I sat in my vehicle parked in the gray cement parking garage, it came to mind that the most important citizenship was already mine. The moment I was saved, I became a citizen of heaven: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:1919Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19)). I also knew that God would never be fumbling for papers! At the time of my salvation, my name was written in the Lamb’s book of life: “There shall in no wise enter into [heaven] anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:2727And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:27)). The matter of my eternal security and citizenship had been settled.
I accepted Christ at ten years of age while living on the island of Bermuda, my childhood home. I had wanted for so long to have this great gift and had tried so hard to get it. But no amount of being good or “acting saved” could help me. The night before I was saved, I repeated a sinner’s prayer and wanted to see a light or an angel ... ANYTHING to verify that I had passed from spiritual death unto life. Nothing happened.
The next day, as I thought about being saved, I remembered that the Bible tells us how Christ died and shed His blood on the cross for sinners, and that when He died, He had everyone in mind, even someone born many, many years after His death. He knew about ME and MY sins. I concluded that if His death wasn’t enough to save me, then I would be lost forever. I quit trying to be saved and trusted in His Word. Thank God, that was enough — based on the authority of God’s Word, which says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). I was saved! What joy! What peace!
I entered the foyer of the designated location for the ceremony to find it already teeming with people from other nations. Barring mishaps, we would all be declared citizens of the United States of America. We would be ceremoniously rewarded for successfully meeting all the citizenship requirements this government placed upon us. It meant being herded upstairs, stripped of our alien’s card and given informational packets. Then we were ushered into the main hall for the judge’s speech, our oath and the final pronouncement that we were U.S. citizens, at last.
Walking back to the parking lot, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a storefront window. Did I look the same? I was so thrilled it seemed as if my countenance shone with a special glow.
I smile when I think about it now, because someday I will shine with Christ’s likeness. Then I’ll meet the righteous Judge who will reward all those who have trusted in Christ, the One who died to set me free. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)). He gives me the courage to live for Him. One day I’ll gather with the redeemed from all nations, and we’ll sing a new heavenly song in our heavenly home. What a day of rejoicing that will be!
I hope you too will come to know Him. Make sure you have what it takes to be a citizen of heaven. It is all found in Christ Jesus who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)).
In Are You Headed the Wrong Way? you’ll get expert directions to make certain you’re really on the way to a home in heaven.