Friday, November 15, 2013

PASSPORT TO PARADISE

Time with Jesus
16 Nov 2013

Hi all,
Some years ago, the Reader’s Digest printed a story, which I found fascinating. It was the story of a man, an “orphan” of no fixed address or family, who was a stow-away on a ship – a tramp steamer which travelled the world trading where it could; regardless of the country to which it sailed. Sadly for the stow-away, he had no papers. No passport, birth certificate, or anything else to demonstrate his nationality. 
He was soon discovered by one of the members of the crew and that’s when the nightmare began. No-body wanted him. Effectively, he was stateless and without anywhere to claim as home. He was a bit like the ancient mariner. He was destined to wander round the world on the ship with no means of entrance into any country.
What the man needed, was a passport; a document which identifies you and clearly states that you belong to a certain country. Something which opens with the words, In the name of …………….. thereby identifying the issuing authority. Then the individual was identified and given authority to travel. 
At one time, it said something about “In the name of her Britannic Majesty”. The South African passport was issued “in the name of the President”. It all sound very grandiose. Whether or not it’s absolutely necessary, is a different matter. Why there can’t be a standardised International Document, is something of a mystery. You would think that in this computerised age, it would be possible to have everything on one card; the same size as a credit card. i.e. Passport, ID No, Driving License, address etc. There is enough “room” on one those electronic “chips”, even to identify the names of the fleas on granny’s dog! The problem with this, for many Christians, would be the possibility that it would be part of a one world government and the associated dreaded “Mark of the Beast”.

You and I have probably only got ordinary passports. Diplomats represent their home country in the place where they are living. Here in South Africa we have men and women representing their homeland. The American Embassy in Pretoria employs some local staff. But the ambassador is a recognised diplomat from USA. He has a USA Diplomatic Passport. It’s a special passport which I’ve never seen.
Ambassadors live in the host country in an embassy. However, their home is regarded as belonging to the country they represent. Accordingly, the USA Embassy is considered to be part of USA. Theoretically, the host nation has no authority within the grounds of the embassy. However, if the US Ambassador allows outsiders to enter, there can be problems with the authority devolving upon the Ambassador and his home country.

It so happens you and I are God’s representatives – ambassadors - from the Kingdom of Heaven. We also have diplomatic passports. You may not have seen them, but the smile on the face of every born again believer displays our passport to the world. Our passport is signed by Jesus Christ. The stamp in the passport is “Grace”. Citizenship was granted by our being “washed in the Blood of the Ram”.
Satan and his forces have no authority within our own homes. Excluding him and his cohorts is our responsibility. If you allow him to come in and rip your home to pieces, you have only yourself to blame. Your ambassadorship and diplomatic passport makes it clear he may not wander in and settle down in your embassy. 
The problem arises when he comes in and we don’t have him ejected. You don’t have to dial 999 (UK) or 911 (USA) to get the police to throw him out. Frankly, you don’t need them. Your passport entitles you to make use of the authority Jesus Christ has given to you. You don’t have to be polite when dealing with Satan and his bunch. A word of command is sufficient to get them all running for cover. Command them to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. At first they may take no notice of you. Don’t let this fool you. Repeat the command and insist they leave. Sooner or later they will vacate your home. Of course, this will only happen if the command is made in Jesus Name.

In 1974, at Kriel Power Station during the construction phase, I recall a visit from the Government Inspector of Factories. He was a charming and very approachable man. But he was also very insistent concerning his rights and authority. Back then, the Site Construction Manager was Mr Ron Harris. Ron had been with Eskom (in those days called the “Electricity Supply Commission” - ESC) for many years. He had a standing instruction to his staff, if a representative from the Inspector of Factories arrived; he was to be given every possible assistance. 
One day the Inspector arrived unannounced (he was entitled to do so) and stated he wanted to visit the first boiler that was at that time being erected. I had the pleasant duty of accompanying him on his inspection tour to make sure everything was acceptable. While looking round the site, he noticed that there was a goods lift which was being used by the boiler contractor’s staff. Suddenly he changed from being amiable and cooperative into what is best described as a ferocious lion. He instructed me to take him to the boiler contractor’s offices and to have the boiler contractor’s site manager (not Ron Harris) drop everything and attend to him immediately. 
Let’s not go into the details of what he said. Sufficient to say he stated he was visiting site on behalf of the President. “Stop this and get it put right immediately” he roared at the unfortunate man. 30 min. later we returned to the lift. There were no more passengers!
We have the same authority in Jesus Name over Satan and his bunch. Let’s start dealing with him the way the Inspector dealt with the contractor’s manager.
Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland



Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
Time with Jesus – 16 Nov 2013
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
©
These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
©
INTRODUCTION
DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
PASSPORT TO PARADISE
Have you ever been disappointed? Perhaps you were turned down for going to a particular place for a reason you don’t really understand? Perhaps the man you fell hopelessly in love with, walked off with someone else? Perhaps that beautiful young lady you admired from afar took one look at you and said, “No thanks!” Perhaps you had a driving ambition to go to university and become a doctor. Then, at the end you found your marks at school didn’t get you the place you wanted.
One of the greatest tragedies I have come across happened to my Dad’s half-sister. In the early days of World War 2 she met a wonderful young soldier. They married and he had 14 days embarkation leave. Then he was shipped off to somewhere to fight in the army. He never came back. She received a telegram from the home office advising her that her husband had been killed in action. She would never see him again. I don’t know how she coped with this terrible disappointment. I know that she never married again. She lived into her 90’s.
How do we cope with things of this sort? What do we do when something we have prised so highly doesn’t happen? Hebrews 11:13 in today’s Scripture refers to the patriarchs, their wives and children. They had been told by God that the land they were living, in would one day be theirs. In some ways, the promise of this portion of land, was their inspiration for carrying on trusting in God and having faith in His promises. They only saw it in their mind’s eye. But this enabled them to rejoice in what The Lord had said He would do.
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Faith Chapter” because it lists the men and women of faith who achieved great things as a result of their faith in Him. The list is not exhaustive but highlights some of what they achieved because of their faith in God. The chapter ends with an extraordinary statement. 39 All these people were known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. 40 God planned to give us something very special so that we would gain eternal life with them. Heb. 11:39-40 GW If we look at these verses, we are drawn to the conclusion, all these great men and women of faith, are still waiting to receive what God had promised them. But there is a delay. The delay comes about, because God has decided, all of us will be rewarded together. Yes indeed, we do derive much courage from the example of those who have gone before us. But these same men and women are watching and waiting. Watching us to see our struggle. Waiting for the time when all of us are together. Only then will The Lord hand out the prizes. They are waiting for us! The Lord has collected their diplomatic passports. They are returned to Him, when we die. I feel greatly humbled to think that the likes of Isaiah is waiting for and watching me.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Ephesians 2:19 ESV

We went to visit Europe in two thousand and ten,
It was a special visit. On the occasion when,
The passion play was featured in Oberammergau.
We knew we had to see it. Back then, the time was now!
It only really happens in ten year interludes,
And when you’re in your sixties, you know it must be viewed,
As soon as it is possible. Who knows, in ten years’ time,
We may have left this planet, to live with Christ Divine?
The first thing that we needed, when tickets had been booked,
Was getting the right passport. We hadn’t overlooked,
These documents to get us into France and Germany.
There had to be credentials for Phyllida and me!
It wasn’t very difficult, for both of us are Brits.
A European document, was what exactly fits
In with what then was needed. And soon were be away,
To pay a special visit to that Special Passion Play.
It truly was magnificent. We came away impressed,
With what we had seen featured. We knew we had been blessed,
With something deeply moving, to captivate the heart.
By going off to Europe, we’d both done something smart!
Our passports made it easy. They satisfied the guards.
It proved we were not strangers for marked upon our cards,
Was something which identified and proved we had the right,
To go into those countries on any day or night.
We have another passport that anyone can see,
A means of signifying our Christianity.
It is the blood of Jesus that washed us white as snow,
And anyone can see it, no matter where we go.
My wife and I are bond-slaves. By Jesus we are owned.
He gave His life for both of us. His precious blood atoned,
For all the sin and evil, that both of us had been.
He is the King of Glory and we are both His queen.
He took our mortal bodies. He gave us His passport.
To enter into heaven, without our being caught,
And told we have no business, to come into His place.
Engraved into our “passports” is written the word “Grace”!
And that is all that’s needed. That mark in Jesus’ name,
Says “Welcome to My Kingdom. I am so glad you came!”
Jim Strickland
Written
16th November 2012

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Hebrews 12:22-23 ESV


13 All these people died having faith. They didn't receive the things that God had promised them, but they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on earth.
Hebrews 11:13 GW


20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Saviour. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.
Philippians 3:20-21 NLT


13 For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son,
Colossians 1:13 NLT


11 Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
1 Peter 2:11 NLT

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