Shortly after arriving in Saudi Arabia in 1978 at the encampment where my husband worked for an oil company, I was prone to complain about things I missed from America. The longer we stayed there, the more I could think of things I loved about America.
In Dhahran, I could drive on camp, but I could not drive in the nearby village or city. In every country we visited as we traveled around the world, we had to have our passports, visas, and important papers available at all times. Although we saw some spectacular sights, we were always happy to see America, the Beautiful, again.
The year after our arrival, Iran fell and the religious leaders feared the Western influence. Because of that, we were not allowed to decorate our yards for Christian holidays or have parades with Christian floats. Our worship times were held in our homes at first, then in a classroom, but we had to put away all evidence of our being there when we left. Even something so small as freedom to decorate our houses the way we want to or worship means much when it is taken away.
It may sound silly, but in Arabia, I missed little things that I had taken for granted before. I missed Velveeta cheese each time I tried to make a macaroni and cheese casserole. There were no miniature marshmallows to put in my Jell-O salad. Coming back to America reassured me of the wonders and bounty of this land. I could thank God that I am an American and that I benefit from all that it has to offer.
The apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20 that “our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul was writing to the church there in a Roman city, Philippi. Those people were proud of their citizenship, just as I am proud of my citizenship. But when I read that verse, it reminds me that although I missed things from America, and I am very loyal and patriotic to America, I should have been focused on other things instead. No need to invest a lot in an earthly home when I’m heading for a heavenly one!
Paul writes again to the church at Ephesus to tell them that they were fellow citizens with God’s people (2:19), and Peter said we were like foreigners and exiles (I Peter 2:11).
In those verses, they are contrasting earthly allegiances with the believer’s eternal identity in Jesus. So we are just “resident aliens” here because we have a different set of loyalties and values.
Our earthly rules are temporary, but heavenly citizenship is eternal.
We can show our favorite activities associated with our cultures, but we should not be obsessed with them.
Although we can enjoy the abundant life here on earth and especially the American dream, we really should be focused on the time when Jesus will come back and get us to take us to His home for us!
Even after reading the daily news or hearing the evening broadcast, I know America is basically good, despite all the current problems. If we only complain about our country, it will do no good. What we must do is pray for it and then let God lead us into doing what is right.
Often, while doing my shopping or running errands, I hear personal stories. One gentleman recently shared about his wife’s recovery from a terminal illness, which made me so happy for them. He said he begins each morning by thanking God for being alive and for giving them another day.
If we could all begin each morning that way, with thankful hearts just for being alive another day, what a lovely country this would be! Instead of complaining about all the evils here, I have to begin with me, and change my attitude. My husband had this sign on his desk: “A good attitude — it’s your choice!”
Dolly, from Family Circle, once told her little brother that “each day is a gift. That’s why they call it ‘the present.'”
Am I proud to be an American? Yes! Do I know much about politics and such? No. So, instead of grumbling about current circumstances, I want to lament less and rejoice more. Quit whining and start applauding. We really do have an abundance of everything here! If we only shared a tenth of what we spend on our own families, it would be a great amount.
So, although we are “looking for a city,” and trying to remember that our citizenship is in heaven, we still want to help others here participate in that abundant life Jesus promised while we wait for Him to come for us.
We want to help, but perhaps we are overwhelmed. Where do we begin? I read on a tomb in Westminster Abbey what someone had written long ago:
“When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it too seemed immovable.
“As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
“And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realize, if I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.
“From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.”
Just as I had to change my disposition while in Arabia, I should encourage others. We need to remember that the “joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10) and go from protest to praise as we recall “the joy of God’s salvation”! (Psalm 51:12). If we can remember that, it can change us, and perhaps at least change the world immediately surrounding us.
Sharing an abundant life while on the way to the land of our real citizenship would be a living example of being more like Jesus, which will affect change!
-Joyce Broyles lives in Jennings, LA