03.15.13 

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven. - 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 NKJV. 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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. - Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV. 

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims (aliens and strangers and exiles - Amplified Bible), abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. - 1 Peter 2:9-12 NKJV. 

On my new route to civilization (McDonalds, Wal-Mart, lumber yard, etc.) these days, I frequently pass by an acreage where a llama is peering over a fence. Invariably, the llama is always next to the fence looking toward the south. I've come to believe that the llama knows that this is not his natural home. Somehow he knows that he was meant for more than a few acres of grass surrounded by a fence in Oklahoma. No, this llama knows that his true home is far to the south. He knows it is down there somewhere. Far to the south on another continent there are herds of llama that roam the mountains of Peru and Ecuador. This llama has never seen that far away land, but he knows that he was made for more than the life he is living now. 

As Christians, we often feel somewhat out of place in the worldly world in which we live. We hunger for more than what this world has to offer. We feel out of place because when we are "born again" our citizenship is transferred from this world to Heaven. Similar to the llama, we have not seen that far away place, but we know it is there. We somehow know that in Heaven, life would be so much better than it is here on earth below. 

The Christian singing group Thousand Foot Krutch has a song called "Be Somebody." A couple of lines from the song are: 

We all want to Be Somebody
We just need a taste of who we are 

We push and strive upon this earth to "Be Somebody" when the truth is that if we know Jesus as our Savior, we already are "Somebody." If we know Jesus as our Savior, we are part of a "chosen generation." If we know Jesus as our Savior, we are part of a "royal priesthood." If we know Jesus as our Savior, we are part of a "holy nation." If we know Jesus as our Savior, we are part of Jesus' "own special people." If we know Jesus as our Savior, we have eternal life because the King of kings and the Lord of lords died for us. The Creator of the Universe knows your name and loves you! You are "Somebody!" 

Some bright shining day you will arrive in your eternal home. Until that day, be assured that you are somebody who has been temporarily placed upon this earth to represent the eternal Kingdom of God. The full authority of Heaven above has been placed in your hands. God Himself, through the Holy Spirit resides within your body. Rise up and be somebody! Be a child of God! Be an Ambassador for Christ! "...abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."