Yesterday I received the approval notification for my India Tourist Visa. This approval grants me access to the country for a maximum of 180 days in any calendar year over the next 5 years. That is probably about as long as anyone can put up with me anyway, so a good number đ
I addition to this visa I also have to bring my passport. This proves I am a citizen of the United States. You are required to take it and the visa wherever you visit while in the country. That’s how this world looks at it, the world governments etc. BUT, since becoming a Christian years ago, joining all followers and disciples of Jesus Christ, we have a new citizenship, in heaven. The moment we started our relationship with Him and our names were added to the Lambs Book of Life (in permanent marker mind you) our home address changed, forever.
A few days ago I was filling out a form online and was asked to enter my home address. I typed in Heaven and pressed Enter. The algorithm threw an error saying it couldn’t find that information in the national address database. Figures…
We’re only here on earth for a very short while. It seems the older I get the faster the clocks spin. We are like a wisp of smoke, here an eye-blink of time in comparison to forever, when we finally finish our foreign travels and get home.
So like a tourist in India, I need to change my priorities, treating those things that last forever (PEOPLE) with the proper value. Reminded to Love people – Use things not the other way around. As a tourist while staying at an airbnb, if the roof leaked, would you spend your money to fix it? Of course not, you’re just passing through. In the same way, as Christians, why are we wasting so much of our time and money on things that will have so very little future importance. What value will they have 1 year, 11 years, a 101 years from now. As followers of Jesus, is it time to get our priorities and value systems more in line with our citizenship? More Love Lessons learned.
Sending All My Love,
Neighbor Tom
~~~
Philippians 3:19-20 NLT
…they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.
2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT
20 So we are Christâs ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, âCome back to God!â
1 Peter 2:11 NLT
11 Dear friends, I warn you as âtemporary residents and foreignersâ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
1 Corinthians 7:31 NLT
31 Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.
2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT
18 So we donât look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Hebrews 11:16 NLT
16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash