SAINTLY CITIZEN AND FAMILY MEMBER!

There we were, stuck between two countries, feeling untethered and uncertain about what was next… oh, yes, I had set off the siren at the border crossing. It was loud. I can’t remember if the alarm lights were flashing – it was like a scene from a movie. A uniformed officer charging me, hand at his hip (gun, taser, pepper spray?), ready to take me out. I only wanted a Tim Horton’s coffee and a Timbit donut from our friendly neighbors to the north.

It was a family outing. We decided to take an afternoon and cross into Canada to enjoy some of their finest. When we arrived at the border to re-enter the US, I watched in the rearview mirror as a customs officer closed the gate behind me. As I approached the checkpoint, another officer walked out to greet me. I rolled down my window and listened as he explained that this border crossing had just closed, and they couldn’t process our entrance back to the US.

He instructed me to take the turnaround access back to the Canadian checkpoint. Both US and Canadian checkpoints were in plain view and within a couple hundred yards of each other. Well, the Canadian border had just closed for the day too. So, here we were at the approach to the Canadian checkpoint, sitting at a never-ending red light waiting for someone to wave us forward. It wasn’t happening. Nothing was happening. I squinted through the mirrored glass to see if someone was inside, but I couldn’t see anyone.

I was confident we were invisible and might as well set up camp for the night. Or we could start thinking outside of the box. Out of the box is how I roll! I looked at Roxanne – a genius idea twirling in my mind.

If you’re in Jesus, it’s time to celebrate your sainthood!

There was no barrier or gate. When I pointed it out, we shrugged our shoulders, gave each other an approving nod, and I applied my foot to the gas. Rolling through the checkpoint booth, I could see, with much more clarity, several officers inside the adjoining room. There was a momentary “Uh oh”, and a few butterflies in my stomach, but a confident dismissal of any wrongdoing. I rolled through the checkpoint, with a little wave goodbye in case someone was watching (after all, in Canada people are polite).

And that’s when the sirens sounded! But don’t fear, we came out unscathed after being threatened with vehicle confiscation, jail time, and fines.

Roxanne and I are familiar with living as foreigners. For seven years I lived in Canada as a non-citizen. Until this year, Roxanne lived on a green card in the USA. She became a citizen earlier this year.

I find it easy to become preoccupied with my earthly residence. My country, people, government, laws, issues, benefits, politics, etc. In reality, my real citizenship is in heaven, and I live as a foreigner on this earth. Strange, because I’ve never physically been to my eternal home country, yet I’m a bona fide citizen of Jesus’ kingdom. In God’s kingdom, dual citizenship is not legal. To become a citizen of heaven requires renouncing citizenship on earth. So, dear saint, you are a resident alien on this planet.

Peter addressed the saints like this,

“Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world]…” (AMPC)

Hebrews depicts the people of faith as those who,

“…confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…”

Jesus was praying for all those that His Father had given Him,

“They (saints) are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

So, let’s see WHERE we belong because of WHO we are IN JESUS.

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…” ~ Ephesians 2:19

Being stuck between two countries is stressful – insecure, unpredictable, even dangerous. Where do you belong?

The tension of uncertain acceptability into God’s kingdom will sabotage your confidence in Jesus and cast doubt about His love for you every time.

CITIZEN WITH THE SAINTS

Concerning your relationship with the saints, you are not a stranger (alien, guest, without a share). Neither are you a foreigner (someone who lives in a place but without the rights of citizenship).

You are a fellow CITIZEN with the SAINTS! TOGETHER! ONE! You hail from the same country. You share EVERY right, privilege, and responsibility in the Kingdom of God! You are a subject of the realm of those people consecrated (dedicated) to God.

Remember WHO you are as a citizen:

Chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, entrusted, God’s inheritance, we exist for the praise of His glory, we are made alive with Christ, raised up with Him, and seated together with Him in Heavenly places! We are saved by grace through faith. God’s workmanship, God’s worker, brought near to God as family, and a member of one body!

If you’re in Jesus, it’s time to celebrate your sainthood!

Sometimes I don’t feel like a saint. Sometimes I don’t act like one. The conclusion I come to is “I must be a sinner”. But I know I’m saved. What a dilemma. This is when the popular Christian cliché gets traction: I’m just a sinner saved by grace. (By the way, when you say it, make sure you make a humble, almost sad face. Set your shoulders in a pose of resignation – maybe even a slight shrug for effect:).

It’s the way to reconcile life experiences (spiritual failure or missing the mark) to the Bible’s truth that Jesus saved me. This prevalent thinking in the church (Ekklesia) is a gross misidentification of those in Christ Jesus. It not only provides a convenient excuse for continuing in sin (after all, we’re just human) –but also makes Jesus’ work on the cross insufficient.

If you are in Christ and still receive the lie that you’re a sinner, you are living between two countries. Misidentified, compromised, resigned, lukewarm – necessitating a very uncomfortable religious balancing act!

I say this candidly and compassionately because I have been a prisoner of the lie. Beloved, the ugly lie is meant to shackle you from walking in the fullness of WHO you are in Jesus.

You WERE a sinner who was saved by grace but now you are announced proudly by Heavenly Father as His SAINT! Clothed in JESUS! A citizen saint along with all the other saints!

MEMBER OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD

So, you belong in the company of the saints. With them, you are ONE in Jesus.

And there is more! You are also a MEMBER of the HOUSEHOLD of GOD! You belong to God’s own house. In short, YOU are HIS FAMILY! God is your Father and the saints your siblings with Jesus Himself being the firstborn! We are of His tribe, kindred, clan, society, lineage, dynasty, and people! We are family and Family is intimate, secure, and comforting.

THE EKKLESIA

The word church in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word Ekklesia. Ekklesia originated as the term referring to voting Roman citizens who met to discuss local affairs. The Ekklesia form of governance was also recognized and practiced by Roman citizens in territories outside of Rome. The assembly of legal voting Roman citizens brought the authority and power of Rome to foreign lands. The Ekklesia were “called out ones” and set the tone of their local community in compliance with Roman authority.

As citizens of God’s kingdom, we (Ekklesia) manifest the presence of God and establish His authority and governance in our specific location. As citizens, we possess this legal spiritual authority and responsibility.

Imagine for a minute that you are walking in the fulness of WHO you are in Jesus. Now imagine your neighbor saint walking the same. How about each member of your own family? How about your community? Your place as a citizen and family member makes up the whole Body of Christ. Interconnected in ONENESS you benefit or hinder the manifestation of God’s presence on earth. As children of God and citizens of His Kingdom, we are His ambassadors to this world. Jesus, as a man, walked the fullness of His identity and the presence of God changed people. What life transformations would you see in your world, my world, if we walked in the truth of WHO we are, just like Jesus did.

“Be imitators of God…” ~ Ephesians 5:1

Has anyone addressed you as “SAINT” lately? Let me be the first today.

“I am honored to know you, dear Saint. I’m so glad you are with me as citizens of Heaven in this foreign land we call Earth. I am pleased to journey with you in ONENESS. And even more so, I rejoice that you are my blood brother/sister in Jesus sharing the same Father! I am truly HONORED by WHO you are.”

“Celebrate Family”