immigration         One of the things that make Juniata special is the large number of immigrants who have chosen to live here.  Many of you have come thousands of miles in order to raise your families in this neighborhood.  Welcome!  For those of us who have grown up in America, though, we often forget how difficult it must be to live where so many things are different from what had always been familiar.

Anyone who moves to a new culture must face a mountain of challenges.  Many, for example, have to struggle with an unfamiliar language.  Almost everything is in English, which is not an easy language to learn.  There are also multiple unfamiliar requirements, ranging from city ordinances to state and federal tax laws.  The things that were once familiar—culture, language, values, and traditions—now seem strange or maybe even bizarre.

What new immigrants face is an illustration of what it is like for an adult to be born again into God’s family.  Jesus said that, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).  That new birth winds up changing almost everything because when Christ forgives us He also changes us.  “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

So, when a person comes to Christ he becomes an “immigrant” in a new country.  Notice how Paul described it: “For

[God] rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).   When we lived in Satan’s kingdom we learned to get by grasping, but in God’s kingdom we learn to get by giving: “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).  We used to think that survival depended on looking out for ourselves.  Instead, Jesus said: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).  Becoming a Christian changes everything.

Immigrants come to America for many reasons.  Most of them are seeking a better life.  In a spiritual sense this is also true of every genuine Christian.   Those who follow Christ, “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:16).  If you are following Christ don’t be surprised when you feel like a stranger in this world.  Christians should think and act much differently from the world they live in.

Living for Christ can be hard, but it is more than worth it.  Paul went so far as to declare, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (personally)” (Philippians 3:8).  We “immigrate” to God’s kingdom when we trust Christ’s work on the Cross.  “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved … For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed’” (Romans 10:9, 11).   If you have any thoughts you would like to share please leave them at www.BethelChapelChurch.com.