Australia takes border security and immigration seriously. Our country takes full advantage of our isolated geography and natural oceanic moat to prevent undocumented immigrants from arriving at our shores. Immigration, refugees, and asylum seekers have been big news since I moved to Australia many years ago, and how to best manage immigration had been a political talking point for decades prior to my arrival. There have been many difference approaches utilised in managing immigration "problems" with a variety of outcomes. Whenever flaws are exposed or it is reported people lost their lives attempting to reach Australia by boat, political parties vying for power claim to have a better plan.
Though I am far from an expert on the subject, I can suggest an immigration policy which would not be popular in Australia or probably anywhere. Let's say it was suggested an "open border" policy be adopted which included everyone from anywhere on the globe, even for convicted criminals guilty of the most heinous crimes awaiting execution on death row. People who were guilty of fraud, theft, rape and human trafficking would be permitted entry at their request at the expense of the Australian government and taxpayers. Australian officials would be sent to enter hospitals and homes globally to extend the invitation to immigrate to patients dying of cancer, AIDS, or Ebola, to people suffering the effects of debilitating handicaps, those who are comatose, or facing terminal disease and mental illness. Not only suspected terrorists, but known leaders and members of terrorist organisations would be welcome. Every person hooked on street drugs, opiates, alcohol, and methamphetamine would be provided the opportunity to move "down under" as well - not only as permanent residents, but an Australian citizen granted all rights and responsibilities. Even the suggestion of such a policy as legitimate would be akin to political suicide. Whilst this would not be a attractive idea for the taxpayers of Australia, think of how attractive it would be for a man freezing in a dark prison or a woman in need of medical care. Families displaced by typhoons could rebuild their lives again, and criminals could leave their past behind for a fresh start.
I have employed hyperbole to show the utter ridiculousness of such a policy to illuminate the glorious Gospel of the kingdom of God. God has done an infinitely greater thing to open the doors of heaven for fellowship and eternal life to sinners. When a country takes in refugees and provides housing and healthcare, the question is often asked: "Who is going to pay for it?" Ultimately it is the taxpayers who foot the bill. God does not demand payment from us for our full pardon and status of citizen of heaven because He amazingly sent His Son Jesus Christ to shed His blood to atone for our sins. Not only are we forgiven through faith in Jesus, but the Spirit of God comes into our lives and dwells within us. We become the eternal children of God, accepted and adopted into the family of God as His beloved children - regardless of our previous sins and crimes. Many people who do legally and successfully immigrate to Australia can feel quite alone and displaced from normal life, but those who are born again into the family of God have the continual presence of God and the fellowship of the church to encourage, exhort, and edify them.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost, to set captives free. It is far easier to become a citizen of heaven than it is to become a citizen of Australia. There is no paperwork, passports, or medical exams; there are no fees, police and FBI checks, or gathering certified copies of documents. Jesus has shed His blood on Calvary, and when we acknowledge our guilt, repent of our sin, and place our faith in Him as Saviour we pass from death to life, darkness to light, lost to found, and hopeless to saved. All who take to heart God's invitation to new life are to renounce sin, self, and worldly pursuits and discover our new identity as citizens of heaven and children of God. We come as unworthy criminals, dependant on chemicals, filled with hate and guilty of murder: through faith in Jesus we are born again and transformed by God's grace. He changes our hearts and puts a new Spirit in us who leads and empowers us to do good and forsake evil. All our benefits and blessings come from God, and we learn of our great, generous, and gracious God through the Bible. All who immigrate to Australia are required to learn English, and every child of God finds sustenance and provision for all aspects of life through the Bible, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, and obedience to God.
Isn't God good? Isn't His grace and the Gospel amazing? The kingdom of heaven is filled with undeserving people, and every one bought by the precious blood of Jesus. To all citizens of heaven God has provided for us the ministry outlined in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Since we are children of God, let us live worthy of this calling and walk in agreement with Him as His faithful servants and ambassadors of His glorious kingdom. No one is worthy or can earn entry into heaven, but God offers eternal citizenship as a gift received by faith in Jesus. There is room in heaven for every soul who makes their heart Christ's home.
Though I am far from an expert on the subject, I can suggest an immigration policy which would not be popular in Australia or probably anywhere. Let's say it was suggested an "open border" policy be adopted which included everyone from anywhere on the globe, even for convicted criminals guilty of the most heinous crimes awaiting execution on death row. People who were guilty of fraud, theft, rape and human trafficking would be permitted entry at their request at the expense of the Australian government and taxpayers. Australian officials would be sent to enter hospitals and homes globally to extend the invitation to immigrate to patients dying of cancer, AIDS, or Ebola, to people suffering the effects of debilitating handicaps, those who are comatose, or facing terminal disease and mental illness. Not only suspected terrorists, but known leaders and members of terrorist organisations would be welcome. Every person hooked on street drugs, opiates, alcohol, and methamphetamine would be provided the opportunity to move "down under" as well - not only as permanent residents, but an Australian citizen granted all rights and responsibilities. Even the suggestion of such a policy as legitimate would be akin to political suicide. Whilst this would not be a attractive idea for the taxpayers of Australia, think of how attractive it would be for a man freezing in a dark prison or a woman in need of medical care. Families displaced by typhoons could rebuild their lives again, and criminals could leave their past behind for a fresh start.
I have employed hyperbole to show the utter ridiculousness of such a policy to illuminate the glorious Gospel of the kingdom of God. God has done an infinitely greater thing to open the doors of heaven for fellowship and eternal life to sinners. When a country takes in refugees and provides housing and healthcare, the question is often asked: "Who is going to pay for it?" Ultimately it is the taxpayers who foot the bill. God does not demand payment from us for our full pardon and status of citizen of heaven because He amazingly sent His Son Jesus Christ to shed His blood to atone for our sins. Not only are we forgiven through faith in Jesus, but the Spirit of God comes into our lives and dwells within us. We become the eternal children of God, accepted and adopted into the family of God as His beloved children - regardless of our previous sins and crimes. Many people who do legally and successfully immigrate to Australia can feel quite alone and displaced from normal life, but those who are born again into the family of God have the continual presence of God and the fellowship of the church to encourage, exhort, and edify them.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost, to set captives free. It is far easier to become a citizen of heaven than it is to become a citizen of Australia. There is no paperwork, passports, or medical exams; there are no fees, police and FBI checks, or gathering certified copies of documents. Jesus has shed His blood on Calvary, and when we acknowledge our guilt, repent of our sin, and place our faith in Him as Saviour we pass from death to life, darkness to light, lost to found, and hopeless to saved. All who take to heart God's invitation to new life are to renounce sin, self, and worldly pursuits and discover our new identity as citizens of heaven and children of God. We come as unworthy criminals, dependant on chemicals, filled with hate and guilty of murder: through faith in Jesus we are born again and transformed by God's grace. He changes our hearts and puts a new Spirit in us who leads and empowers us to do good and forsake evil. All our benefits and blessings come from God, and we learn of our great, generous, and gracious God through the Bible. All who immigrate to Australia are required to learn English, and every child of God finds sustenance and provision for all aspects of life through the Bible, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, and obedience to God.
Isn't God good? Isn't His grace and the Gospel amazing? The kingdom of heaven is filled with undeserving people, and every one bought by the precious blood of Jesus. To all citizens of heaven God has provided for us the ministry outlined in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Since we are children of God, let us live worthy of this calling and walk in agreement with Him as His faithful servants and ambassadors of His glorious kingdom. No one is worthy or can earn entry into heaven, but God offers eternal citizenship as a gift received by faith in Jesus. There is room in heaven for every soul who makes their heart Christ's home.