Many countries in the world permit dual citizenship. But it is not permitted in the kingdom of God. This kingdom recognizes only one citizenship. Jesus once said; ‘You cannot serve two masters….. You cannot serve God and Mammon’ (Mt 6:24). Read with it Paul’s reminder about the single citizenship status of a believer. ‘But our citizenship is in heaven’ (Phil 3:20). Christian life is a call to strive for attaining this citizenship of the eternal kingdom of Christ.
The kingdom of wealth, and Mammon, its king, have always been enemies of the kingdom of God. Not only that, their influence is so powerful as to describe’ the love of money as a root of all kinds of evil’( 1 Tim 6:10). But never forget that there are other kingdoms too, apart from that of Mammon, that stand against the kingdom of Christ. Almost all kingdoms that we come across in this world are sworn enemies of the eternal kingdom, the reason being they are ruled and controlled by the ‘ruler of this world’ (Jn 14:30). Paul gives a short list of them in his letter to the Corinthians. ‘Wrongdoers, fornicators, idolators, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, and robbers will not inherit the kingdom of God’ (1 Cor 6:9-10). In his letter to the Galatians he extends the list by adding impurity, licentiousness, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissentions, factions, and carousing also to it (Gal 5:19-21).
Those who practise such things are voluntarily applying for citizenship in the kingdom of the devil to which they will be sent when Lord Jesus Christ, after ‘destroying every ruler and every authority and power, will hand over the kingdom to God the Father’ (1 Cor 15:24).
As for the remaining, they will be admitted to the eternal kingdom of God, where Jesus Christ reigns as king. But to reach there, it is essential to tread a different path and it is the same path opted by their Lord. ‘Whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked’ (1 Jn 2:6). It is a path less travelled and also less enjoyable. It is in this world, but away from it. Of this path that leads to heaven the apostle writes; ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world’ (1 Jn 2:15). The kingdom of this world is momentary, but the kingdom to come is eternal. ‘The worlds and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever’ (1 Jn 2:17).
It is foolish to think that keeping the citizenships of both these kingdoms at the same time is possible. The people of Israel were fooled to believe that they could follow the true God and Baal simultaneously. To them, Elijah asked; ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him;but if Baal, then follow him’ (Kings 18:21). This question is more relevant nowadays.
Heaven lists as winners those who exchange the momentary pleasures of this world for the citizenship of the eternal kingdom. Remember that ‘here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come’ (Heb 13:15). And this city is one that does not entertain dual citizenship. It is essential that we have to fight a battle against the self to ensure a seat in the kingdom of Christ. They are reserved for those who come out victorious in the battle.
As Christ does not belong to the world so are those who are for Christ (Jn 17:16). Their strength is nothing but Christ’s prayer to the Father, a prayer to protect them from the evil one (Jn 17:15). As long as the Son of God protects them, ‘the evil one will not touch them’ (1 Jn 5:18). Let us pray for the strength to resist the temptations of ‘the evil one under whose power lies the whole world’ (1 Jn 5:19). May Jesus Christ, the king of the eternal kingdom, grant us citizenship in heaven.
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