I'm an Alien!!!

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ" ~2 Cor 5:19


It has been crazy at work lately.   There have been reductions, pilot projects, and re-organizations, and so many things up in the air.   For those who may not know me, one of my primary gifts and personality traits revolves around planning.  So you can imagine the unknown quickly throws this "planner" into some distress.      
In the midst of all this craziness, our pastor and some guest speakers have been talking about the Shalom (peace) of God, and living from a place of peace rather than searching for peace.   And to be honest, it's been a little confusing.    I really want that, but then I work in the "real world" and life is just crazy.  So how does all of this work?   
As I pondered and prayed, I heard the words "diplomatic immunity".      I'm not an attorney, and I'm not completely well versed in the legalities of all that entails, but my basic understanding is that ambassadors from another country are not bound by the laws of the country they are living in, but rather by their homeland's country.    (Now, I know there are exceptions to this in the natural, but go with me for a little while.)  
Ephesians 2:19 tells us that we are citizens of God's household, and Philippians 3:20 says that our citizenship is in heaven.   And as quoted above, 2 Corinthians 5:19 indicates that we are ambassadors for Christ.   
So, what if the "real world" that we live in, isn't really our "real world"?    What if we don't have to abide by the laws of the world, but rather we are accountable to the Kingdom of Heaven, where we are citizens?    
The "laws" of the world are fear, anxiety, stress, immorality, shame.  The "laws" of Heaven are peace, joy and righteousness.    We have diplomatic immunity here.  We get to live in the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth!    This is how we live from the place of peace.    Wherever we set foot is our "embassy" and therefore becomes sovereign property with our sovereign rules.   It's a fruitful place (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control) and a beautiful place, a place that will woo many to defect!  

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.  
~1 Peter 2:10-12



***PLEASE DO NOT READ WHAT I'M NOT WRITING!    We are still called to submit to authority, which means we need to honor our governments, our church authorities, our parents, our bosses, etc.   1 Peter 2:17 tells us to "fear God and honor the king".   God is a God of order and authority, and there are blessings for us as we remain under authority.  In the natural, ambassadors build diplomatic relations by honoring the local authorities, even when in disagreement.   We, too, can honor those that God has placed in authority, all while living under the sovereign rule of His Kingdom.