Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
The organization, Open Doors, www.opendoorsusa.org estimates there are over 300,000 Christians in North Korea. A witch hunt with incentives is in place to expose North Korean Christians. When found, these Christians and their families to the fourth generation are either killed on the spot or sent to labor camps.
We think we’re blessed to live in the United States, and we are for the fleeting moment we live here. Christianity isn’t always popular in the U.S., but we aren’t often persecuted. The Bible says our real citizenship is heaven, not on earth. God says Christians living in North Korea are blessed. They are persecuted and murdered because of Jesus. They’re only in North Korea as a mist that appears and vanishes. For eternity they will receive great rewards in heaven.
All of Jesus’ apostles, except John, were killed violently because of Him. Our ancestors didn’t treat them well. But because of the apostles we are blessed to know Jesus. Their reward in heaven is great.
Father God, help me make decisions knowing I’m a citizen of heaven for eternity and a foreigner on earth. You are my leader, and I want to please you. Show me how I can receive your rewards in heaven. Thank you for your unconditional love and choosing me to be your child. Amen.
Of course we are blessed to live in the United States. We have the freedom that others, in different countries, want so badly. We can be who we want to be and worship how we want to in the US. We are fortunate because people in other countries are persecuted for many different reasons. God blesses those that are persecuted, but do they feel blessed? Even though we are on Earth for a short time, I believe that we are citizens on Earth. We have a huge investment of love for family and friends.
You’re right we do have a huge investment of love for family and friends. Perhaps we can have dual citizenship. I love the verses Phillipians 3:20-21: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Despite the love we give and receive, we won’t ever be completely happy on earth like we will be in heaven.