resident alien

As I have passed through sites where Jesus was showing and teaching the Kingdom, a key message apparent to me is that we are resident aliens in this world. Certainly for a time, I am passing through.

However, in the big picture, I am a citizen of God's invisible and eternal Kingdom with all of the privileges and provisions of the Heavenlies. Sure, I have a Kingdom purpose while I am here, mainly pointing to and showing others His Kingdom. Life on this earth is not my identity. It is not who I am. It is not my "end game."



This is what Jesus taught His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, focused their attention on in Caesarea Philippi, and brought to life with the Samaritan women at Jacob's well.

Contrast this with the time spent in Bethlehem with a mature, serious (not ultra Orthodox) Jew and an Palestinian Islamic Imam. While there are particulars to each gentleman, at the core of their message is their human identity as a Jew or as a Muslim. Their identity is not in a political, economic, military or even religious  context, but rather the cultural framework for living their lives.

For the Jew meaning and purpose is the connection he has with the land of Israel, the land God gave to them thousands of years ago. This identity that links his life to a land is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Of course, political power bases exploit the peoples' obsessions with this identity, but Jewish identity attached to a specific land is fundamental.

The Imam spoke succinctly about the virtuous life God requires of people. Identity for Muslims is sourced in the practices and traditions of justice, charity and prayer. The journey to gain God's favor defines who they are and their purpose in life. Over the years factions have taken Islam into war between themselves and others based on power and historical views of land.

Psychologists call these attachments of Jews and Muslims their social identity. It is the way a human self-identifies with his/her tribe. A person's social identity is established through culture from the beginning of one's life until they die or become a Kingdom dweller. It is not unique to Israel and the Palestinians. I saw it growing up in Ala in the 50's and 60's related to the Confederacy. This is why the business of finding your heritage is flourishing and the book "Roots" was so widely read.

I sum it up this way - a person will always be in bondage (psychologically) to "an identity of residence" until liberated by Jesus to be a resident alien in this world and a citizen of the King.

I have pondered this over the recent years but never is it more apparent than when you walk the historical path of Jesus and see the chaos and upheaval of a world that rejects His invitation to a new identity.