Not Canadian! What Could Be Worse?

Have you applied for your passport yet? Rhian has hers. We went to the passport office back in November and waited in line for 2 1/2 hours. Then about two weeks later it arrived in the mail. Of course, she needed it for a trip she was taking to Britain in January. We decided to wait until the rush died down. At least hopefully it will by the summer. We aren't in a big hurry as we are not planning any plane trips in the near future.

Watching the news the other night, I must admit I am a bit tempted to get a Bristish passport. The cost works out to be a bit more expensive but the passport is good for ten years instead of five. Of course, I might have to do a bit more leg work as I have no idea where my birth certificate is but I do have my Canadian citizenship certificate.

The news has been full of passport news and there was an interesting article that caught my attention the other days. Some long time residents of Canada sending away for their passports have discovered their citizenship is no longer valid. Some are the victims of a little known law in effect between 1947 and 1977. If they did not live in Canada on their 24th birthday and failed to sign a specific form, their citizenship expired the next day. Others lost their citizenship as a result of citizenship in another country. There are believed to be an estimated 10,000 - 20,000 people now being referred to as Lost Canadians.

What a shock it would be to apply for your passport only to discover your citizenship was in question. Yet, it would be a shock far better to handle than the news of discovering your eternal destiny was not what you had planned. Many believe their good works will get them into heaven but that's not what Jesus said.
"On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ " (Matthew 7:22-23 NLT).

We all have broken God's laws. So is there hope for anyone? Of course there is. Jesus never broke any of God's law and therefore, He was the only one who could satisfy the demands of the Law. The payment for the broken law is death. Jesus did not deserve to die and yet He stepped in and said "I will pay the price for all of the laws that have been broken." And He did. He died on the cross. His life was not taken from Him, but He willingly gave it. Why? So we could follow Him. So we could know that our citizenship in heaven is secure. So we don't have to hear the words, "Depart from me." Instead we will hear, "Enter in to the joy of your Lord."