TODAY’S MEDITATION – Do not become an immigrant in the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 1:5)

This morning, reading the news, I thought of an incident that happened to me in 2010. I was driving my car and traffic patrols stopped put their lights to ask me to pull over, to get out of my car and give them the key. I did so as I was kindly invited to get into their car. An agent locked my car after pulling the glass window up. They told me they had been checking my car from the number plate and could not see my driving licence. I told them it was normal because I have a French driving licence. They told me I had been driving in the UK for many years now so I should have had a UK driving licence. I said, under the EU law, I am allowed to drive with my French driving licence. They asked me if my insurer knew I had a French driving licence, while I could see on their computer that they already had all the information they were asking me. I answered ‘yes they know and that’s why I am paying more than if I have a UK licence’.

My brother, my sister, what do we pay more when we remain one foot in and one foot out? How many of us are in the Kingdom but want to continue to keep their manners, habits, comfort? Thinking about all that this morning, I wondered if the United Kingdom has ever really been with both feet in the EU: they are the only country in Europe that continued to drive on the other side, their currency is different… while most European countries have adopted the euro. Should we be surprised then?

Is it not what many believers do when they move from the kingdom of darkness (the world) to the Kingdom of God? They don’t adapt to the new Kingdom rules or want to continue being independent. The British traffic patrols were entirely right to ask me for a UK licence because I was under a new territory. Today I woke up to realise how we can make ourselves immigrants in God’s Kingdom: by refusing to adapt to its rules. This morning I was driving my car thinking, if the patrols stop me again, what would I tell them since my previous argument has now lost its validity? Would it not have been easier for me to just get a British license since my arrival? Now I feel compelled to get one or take the risk to continue driving illegally with a driving licence that is invalid on the territory of the United Kingdom since I’m not a tourist in the country.

My friends, let’s realise that, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:5). Yes, we are the adopted children of God; let’s therefore learn to adapt to the rules of His Kingdom for our own good. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.