Citizens of the Kingdom

Think about it for a minute or two. Where you are a citizen of, you reflect that. Whatever town or city you are from, you represent that place without even thinking about it. First of all, you obviously live there, or your address would be different. You probably at one time went to school there, unless you moved in after, but in that case you work there. So you either represent the local school, or the local workforce. Secondly you represent your state. You pay tax in your state, you probably know the state song, flower, bird, college mascot,etc... So you represent your state because you live there.

On Feb. 8, 2007 one modern-day baseball great became a U.S. citizen. Albert Pujols was born in the Dominican Republic and when we was 16 his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. After a great high school baseball career which landed him a spot playing community college ball for 1 year, and then drafted by the Cardinals in the 13th round, Albert Pujols was living the dream of many American boys.


The difference was he was not an American boy. Well to skip around a little bit, Albert Pujols, at this time he was being sworn in as a U.S. citizen, Pujols had 250 homeruns, 758 RBIs and .332 batting average. All this aside, the only thing on Albert's mind that day was becoming a U.S. citizen. The coolest thing about it, he made a perfect score. He wasn't born here, wasn't taught from birth that America is the greatest country ever, or learned every detail about his state. Now I'm sure he had to learn things for school, but remember he missed out on the elementary years that you and I learn most of our country's basics.

When he learned that he had earned a perfect score, he grinned from ear to ear. Pujols had purposely studied for this exam for about a year, ontop of dedicating himself to the game of base ball which he had won the NL Gold Glove that year. He put his work in.


Now to change thoughts for a second. Albert Pujols is known for his bat, his glove, and his faith. This is one of my favorite quotes from Albert Pujols,

"People ask me if I believe how quickly my career has taken off. I just tell them that Jesus Christ is my strength. God has blessed me and I will continue to do my best for Him. That is more important than anything I could do in baseball."

Pujols knows where his strengh comes from because he is first of all a citizen of the kingdom. I know he was excited about becoming a United States citizen, but he had this to say about accepting Jesus Christ as his Personal Lord and Savior, On November 13th 1998, I made the best decision of my life." He asked Christ to come into his life and be his Lord.


As Christians, Children of God, we need to realize that yes we are citizens of our state/ country but they should never be put before our citizenship of Heaven.

In Philippians 3:20 Paul urges us to walk like Christ walked because we are not of this world, we have a citizenship in Heaven.

When Albert Pujols grinned at becoming a U.S. Citizen, I can guarentee that it was nothing compared to the smile upon his face on that November day in 1998 when he made Jesus Christ Lord, of His Life.

Are you living like you are a Citizen of the Kingdom, or are you perfectly happy claiming your citizenship of this world?