Dual Citizenship Has Its Privileges

I had an “aha” moment when I handed over my passport at the Mexico customs entry. I was handing over my Rite of Passage.

Having a passport goes way back to my teenage years but taking the time to read the first page of it goes back to last Sunday. This is what I read: “The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection.” I read those words and felt privileged.

I’ve used my passport to take me through many border crossings and I like to think that if I had ever had any kind of difficulty, anywhere in the world, I could have shown them this little blue book embossed in gold and people would have helped me because of what our country stands for in the world — “land of the free and the home of the brave”. Too many have shed precious blood for our liberties and our privileges. I’m more proud than ever to carry an American passport. Also, I love seeing the customs agent flipping my passport pages to find a blank space to stamp that country’s seal to prove I was there. Every stamp represented the privilege of entering that country with the backing of my country behind me.

Because my husband was a natural born citizen of Canada, our children are dual citizens — of the U.S. where they were born and are also Canadian citizens. As his wife, I was welcomed in. We were graciously given the same privileges of other Canadian citizens.

But the grandest news is to have dual citizenship of this world and the citizenship of the Kingdom of God. Ephesians 2:19-20 says, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.” Being a child of God comes with the privileges of being loved by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I love, honor and respect my dual citizenship: in the U.S. AND in the Kingdom of God. As citizens and representatives of both, there are responsibilities to love, honor, protect and respect our privileges, to represent both kingdoms well. If I didn’t live in the U.S. and hadn’t become a part of the Kingdom of God, I suspect I’d be clamoring to get in. In the Kingdom of God, the borders are wide open — no walls, fences, and no “Do Not Enter” signs. WHOEVER you are, you can get in, too! Just look at the WHOEVERS-MAY-COME into this privileged Kingdom:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

“I am come a light into the world, that WHOEVER believes on me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)

“And it shall come to pass, that WHOEVER shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)

Because of the cross, Christians know where we’re headed, and because of the cross, we are guaranteed citizenship. It is the country we belong in, the home and land we’ve been looking for all our lives. The color of our passport is blood red and our eternal visa has already been irrevocably stamped. We can’t always know what our house will look like or what country we will call home for any given season, but all believers can have full confidence and deep comfort that, because of Christ, God has prepared a place for us. Indeed, we are privileged dual citizens!