Rights and Authority

Long before I arrived on this planet and to this day people hold their "rights" dear.  Most people want to have a high degree of autonomy over their lives and the freedom to exercise their right of choice in all areas of life.  What is intriguing about the concept of having rights is there must be governance at some level to authorise and uphold them.  A child has the right to stay up late to watch a movie because permission is granted by mum and dad; an employee has the right for compensation for injury because the government has provided it.  Governments have the right of rule because there is a God who has ordained them to do so, and before Him all men will give an account of the exercise of their rights because He is Creator and supreme.  Without the existence of God who created the universe which remains under His authority, the concept of having "rights" is foreign.

There is a right given by God that is greater than the freedom of speech, to assemble or to bear arms:  we are given the right to become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  John 1:11-14 says, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 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:¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  There have been times in history when rights have been voluntarily relinquished or forcefully removed, yet this right God gives is available to all regardless of regime.  A government may forbid a person to mention the name of Jesus Christ, but no one can stop a person from being born again as a child of God.  Our God-given right to know and trust God has not been rescinded, nor will ever be for those who hope in Him.

It was not long ago a dual citizen of Australia had his Australian citizen revoked because of terrorist offences and was sent back to his nation of origin.  As a dual citizen myself it gave me pause to consider that my citizenship in Australia is permanent but not forever.  Australia can welcome me as a citizen who by choice makes an pledge of loyalty to Australia and its people under God, and also can someday revoke it without my permission.  For those who are born again children of God our citizenship in heaven will never be revoked.  There is no sin too great to be accepted by the Father because the justice of God has been satisfied by the atoning work of Jesus Christ on Calvary.  All our sins have been washed away and the righteousness of God imputed to us by grace through faith.  Isn't this wonderful news?  Isn't it great to know God has given us the right to become His children, and He will not rescind this right for all eternity?  We have on good authority our eternal security and acceptance as one of God's own.  Bless the LORD!