Author: Bellissiwarriors

When planning a trip by plane, I tend to forget the whole process of getting somewhere is more than buying a ticket and getting onboard. There’s the unpredictability of getting to the airport, the process to check in and pass through security. That’s another 3-4 hours of travel time for even the shortest of flights.

I must not be the only one who forgets this part. On a recent trip, the extra cushion I had allowed was eaten up before I even got into the airport. Then the line for the counter snaked back and forth, and anxious passengers began jumping places, pushing past others in their desire to get to the front. Those waiting began grumbling. Things looked a bit dicey for a few minutes. 

Sometimes that’s the way it is. There are days when we’re so focused on ourselves – on what we need, where we’re trying to go, what we want – that we just push our way to the front, oblivious to the impact we have on those around us. This is how we behave when we think we’re going to miss out on happiness – “You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them” (James 4:2). 

Self-centeredness is always going to lead us to disregard others. Unchecked, it leads us to the false belief that our desires are more important than anything else, that our happiness is the only thing that really matters. When I begin to believe that’s actually true, I’ve started to travel down a dangerous road.

What’s the solution?  It isn’t self-hatred. It’s the enemy who says we are unworthy of being loved, that we’re fundamentally unlovable in our very nature.  That’s not what God says. God says He loves us.  He created us in His image and declared that we are good. No, the way out of the dangerous temptation to self-love is humility. 

Humility is seeing ourselves rightly, as God sees us.  This means neither self-hatred nor self-love.  The truth is God loves us, and we have a terrible tendency to wander away.  Humility keeps us in right relationship with God because it recognizes the strong pull of sin in our lives and our desperate need for Him to keep us from being dragged off.  And humility keeps us on an even footing with others because we know that we all make many mistakes.  Their sin could be our sin.  Their failures could be our failures.

But when we’re the one being shoved out of the way and stepped on, it’s hard. We wonder if anybody even sees us. We worry a bit about what will happen to our own needs, our own ability to get where we want to go if we let everyone else go ahead. Does humility mean that we’ll be left behind?

The truth is, we’re not ready for the destination without the preparation. It’s the part of the journey we enjoy the least, but it’s essential.  “For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose]” (Hebrews 12:11 AMP).

True happiness isn’t found in being first, but in trusting that God will sort things out rightly. Consider the example we have in Jesus, who demonstrated for us what it looks like to turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and love His enemies. He didn’t insist on having His own way, or assert His rights. Instead He humbled Himself in obedience and allowed God to determine the outcome. “Let [Him] teach you, because [He is] humble and gentle” (Matthew 11:29).

I recently visited a country with strict border entry protocols. One piece of advice I read before traveling said, “You might not like it, but don’t even bother complaining about it. It’s their country.” It doesn’t matter if you think the rules are fair or not. You have no say in them because you don’t belong. They don’t have to let you in. There’s no reason for them to be lenient. In their eyes, you represent not just an outsider, but a potential threat to their safety and security. Of course they’re not taking any chances.

This led me to think about the mercy and kindness of God. We’re foreigners and aliens in His Kingdom. What’s more, our conduct often shows we’re really His enemies. Whether through ignorance or intention, we neglect the rules and even break the law on a regular basis. But instead of turning us away, He says, There’s a way out if you will take it. Become a citizen of this country. 

How can we do it? Only by doing it God’s way. That means believing that Christ died in our place. That He took the punishment we deserved and that His blood is sufficient to pay our debt. It’s only the intercession of Christ, Him identifying us as His own, that can save us. You can show all the documents you want at the counter, but it’s only Christ walking up and saying, “This one’s with me” that will do any good. Your passport for entry must be stamped with His blood.

“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders by birth… Because of what Christ has done for us…now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family!” Ephesians 2:19

God doesn’t stop with naturalization. “To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). He takes foreigners, aliens, enemies, and makes them not only citizens, but His own children. He adopts us as sons and daughters. He makes us co-heirs with Christ. It’s impossible to quantify that inheritance – “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). It’s the entire goodness of God that we look forward to. 

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Anyone can become a citizen of heaven. Anyone can become a child of God. It’s simply a matter of renouncing any agreements or ties you’ve made to serve anyone other than God. Swear your allegiance to the King and gladly serve Him, and He will call you His children and welcome you into His Kingdom.