Immigration Issues: Now and Forever

Illegal immigration has always been a difficult issue. Now it’s worse. The rising influx of illegal immigrants to the United States has burdened a system that is already overwhelmed financially, in manpower and in the courts.

Thousands of unaccompanied children from Central American countries are illegally crossing America’s southern border adding to an already existing illegal immigration problem. A number of the children have been placed in temporary housing with a parent or relative who will care for them until their cases are heard, but many remain in facilities without even an adequate number of beds.

There is endless debate about whether this is an immigration crisis or a humanitarian one, and the issue does not look like it will be resolved any time soon. Congress and the President have both vowed to take action, but the process is slowed by partisan bickering.

Whatever the outcome, the immigration crisis highlights some spiritual parallels.

Every one of us is on earth temporarily. This world is not our final home, and we are all travelers seeking an eternal residence with the hope of something better beyond this life. For those who have accepted Christ as Savior, that home is Heaven, which is reached when a believer dies or when Christ returns to take His church to be with Himself. For those who don’t know Christ, the border is closed and there is no entrance.

The proper documents allow immigrants to enter a country legally and afford them the opportunity to make a new life there. Illegal aliens live with the constant fear of deportation and rarely have the opportunity to make a better life. Likewise, having the proper “paperwork” is the only way to obtain eternal life. Only those whose names are found in the Lamb’s Book of Life gain entrance to Heaven and enjoy its benefits forever.

John described the scene that will take place when the official spiritual documents are examined. “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life … there shall be no means enter [heaven] anything that defiles…but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Revelation 20:12; 21:27)

Many immigrants become U.S. citizens after coming to America. Citizenship offers advantages including the right to vote, financial aid, federal benefits, and permanent residency. In Christ, believers are citizens of the heavenly kingdom even before we arrive there. The Apostle Paul wrote of believers, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19) Because of this citizenship, believers enjoy benefits in addition to eternal life that are not available to non-citizens including God’s presence (Hebrews 13:5), God’s care (Luke 12:22-31), answered prayer (John 16:23), and, most importantly, permanent citizen status (John 10:28, 29).

For most illegal immigrants, nothing short of amnesty will allow them to stay in the U.S. legally. In His death on the cross, Jesus Christ provided the “amnesty” that allows our permanent residence in Heaven. Forgiveness of the sin that separates us from God is available to any who accept it (Romans 10:13).

While the President, Congress and political pundits debate the pros and cons of immigration legislation, deportation and amnesty, there is no debate on residency status in Heaven. Scripture is quite clear. “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire (hell, eternal punishment)” (Rev. 20:15).

A person who is truly born again can never be “deported” from God’s kingdom. Christ said, “…the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37). Accept Christ now so that your eternal home is secure.

Gayle Virkler

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