When Heaven Is Your Homeland

Today I started my morning with a cup of coffee, two slices of whole wheat toast (with butter and grape jelly), and a bowl of watermelon chunks.  As I ate and sipped, I pulled up Facebook and read through the thoughts and updates from my friends and family.  One friend had posted a link to Ann Voskamp's blog (which I've gotten out of the habit of reading on a regular basis), and I decided to check it out.  She poetically (as only Ann can) tells the story of making a trip from her native Canada down to the United States with a van full of her children.  When she gets to he U.S. border (after a three hour drive), she realizes she doesn't have passports with her for two of her children.  Panic moment.  After explaining the situation to the U.S. border patrol agent and asking if there is a way she can turn around, he simply opens the sliding back door of the van and asks the two children directly what their birth dates are.  He enters them into his tablet and gives Ann permission to enter the U.S.  Stunned, she asks him if she will be able to get back home to Canada without the passports the following week and he tells her, "If they are really Canadian citizens, they can't be denied entry."

This story has spoken to my soul deeply today.  I am a citizen of heaven.  I am traversing this foreign land for a season, but one day I will come to the gates of heaven, my homeland, and as a true citizen, I cannot be denied entry.  This brings tears to my eyes and joy to my soul, and a deep desire to point others to the way that they can gain citizenship as well - not by birth, but by rebirth.  Praise Him!

Ann's full blog post: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/06/when-you-feel-a-bit-like-you-dont-belong/ 

1 Peter 2:11 "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in this world, to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul." NIV

Philippians 3:20 "But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a savior from there; the Lord Jesus Christ." NIV
John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." ESV

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