Kingdom Citizens as Missionaries on Earth

With everything going on in the United States and throughout various countries in the world, it is easy to become consumed and overwhelmed with all the various issues we are facing whether it's politically, economically, socially, race and equality or whatever the case may be. It is important to stay informed to what is happening in our local communities expanding to global issues, but how we respond to it is key. My supervisor at work says some impactful words that are simple yet it truly resonates with me. “Perception is reality" meaning how your thoughts, opinions and perception of certain things or the world is your reality and that for someone else their perception may be completely different. “Attitude is everything” is self-explanatory. My former high school track coaches, Coach Reed and Coach Schumacher, dearly believed in this and repeated this phrase frequently as well. As I get older, I truly believe this to be true as I realized that positive thinking produces positive results which I adopted this phrase after hearing this from a friend of mine. A personal example is I decided in my mind that I enjoy Mondays. My attitude is that Mondays are a new beginning of the workweek and a fresh start to make the most of my time within and outside of work hours. Usually, I am usually energetic, joyful, and excited about the workday especially from a good night of sleep the night before. On the other hand, people generally tend to dread Mondays, which usually reflects in their attitudes and demeanor, which may affect their productivity. Finally yet equally important, his third go to impact phrase is “Knowledge is power”. Acquiring knowledge is the source of unlocking information to everything on this earth and God from above provides us wisdom. When combining knowledge and wisdom, it results in limitless potential for fruitful works in The Spirit.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, says so powerfully in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Through our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, our life belongs to Him and therefore we are to put to death the sinful desires of the flesh and be holy to honor God in our bodies, as it is a dwelling place for The Holy Spirit. The bible makes that clear in the sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians. While I was born in the United States of America and this is where I live on earth, I truly belong to Jesus Christ. Please read Galatians 3:28-29. God is very intentional on where he places us and why he has us here. Those of us who repented and gave our life to Jesus Christ through His grace and we are no longer citizens of this world, but our life is with God for eternity. We are here on this earth to be an ambassador of Christ, spreading the gospel and living by it while exemplifying so far superior love to Him and also to our neighbors in order to advance the Kingdom to help win souls over to Jesus Christ. This is what we are here for; missionaries and representatives for the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Jesus calls us the light of the world and salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16). Therefore, our purpose on this earth is to glorify God by our faith in Jesus Christ with love from our entire hearts, mind and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves. You know why? Because God is love (1 John 4:8). Once we got baptized in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) for the remission of our sins, we received The Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost or The Holy Spirit is with us always as our Helper, Comforter, Advocate and Teacher guiding us in all ways in the truth of God (John 14:26). With so much sin, hate, division, inequality and whatever else is contrary to the holiness of God, we are able to conquer all of that with the power of love!!! My mentor Donald Ross once told me that there are not good people or bad people but we are all just people. We are all imperfect human beings with sin being born into this fallen world. People are capable of doing vary noble and positive things and in the same token we can do the most evil things ever possible. Let us fellowship and praise God for those of us who are born again in Jesus Christ, and let us be a light to those who are in darkness with our love, sharing, and living by the true gospel of Christ. Pray and help the poor, elderly, sick and all of those at the margins of society. Pray for our enemies and show love. Is that not what Jesus did during His ministry on earth? (Matthew 5:44). Is that not what He teaches us to do? Who knows, you may plant the seed so that they may receive salvation through the power of Jesus Christ someday. Let us not forget, we ourselves haven’t always been saved. We were sinners on our way to hell before we truly sought out to Him and only by the grace of Jesus Christ we received salvation after we believed in Him in our hearts. Pray for and love your Muslim and Latino neighbors, the greedy bankers, the White police officers, Black people, immigrants, atheists, murderers, thiefs, drug dealers, “alt-right” people, our president, democrats and republicans, and for all human beings. The Holy Bible is our guidebook and fountain of truth. (1 Timothy 1:9-10). It is easier said than done, but if it were easy everyone would do it!

Remember my dear people that our fight on earth is not physical but it is spiritual. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:10-12. As citizens of the Kingdom here on earth, it is our mission to share the good news of Jesus Christ and live according to The Word. We are called to be proactive in our faith. This is why we need to love everyone and pray always especially our enemies. This is why we need Jesus. God bless you all.