Passing the Spiritual

Before immigrating to Australia, our family needed to complete physicals in the United States to qualify for a visa.  It included a basic physical examination, bloodwork, vision, and drug testing.  Had we failed the physical, we would have been denied a visa and entrance to the country.  After we lived in Australia for two years, again the whole family was required to undergo a physical to obtain a permanent resident visa.  Praise the LORD we each passed the physical and this potential hindrance to obtaining the visa was removed.  God gave us favour with our application and now we remain grateful permanent residents of Australia.  Since we have completed the physicals and have continued to live in-country, we should not need to have physicals when we apply for citizenship next year God-willing.

Paul wrote concerning Christians in Philippians 3:20-21:  "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."  Similar to how immigration to a different country requires a physical, to become a citizen of heaven requires a "spiritual."  Only those who are completely righteous and holy meet God's requirements for heavenly citizenship.  Heaven is open to everyone, but the problem is there is not one person aside from Jesus Christ who meets God's strict standards according to His Law.  Not one person today can pass this spiritual physical.  Polluted by sin, we all fail and will be denied entrance.

But God, in His mercy toward us, sent Jesus to suffer and die on our behalf.  He has risen from the dead, proving His saving power.  God's Word teaches us the effect of Christ and the Gospel in John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..."  Whosoever will repent and trust in Jesus Christ, receiving Him as LORD, the righteousness of Christ will be imputed to us (Romans 4:8-11).  Our sins are atoned for by the blood of Jesus through faith, and we receive a life-providing transfusion of Christ's righteousness.  We are holy, even as He is holy.  Only then can we pass the spiritual requirements to gain access into heaven, for we have already received Him in our hearts by faith.

This is good news!  Christians are made citizens of heaven by the grace of God, and have assurance of eternal security through His Word.  Praise God for the way He has made through His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life!