Some years ago, while overseeing our mission’s work in the French- and English-speaking Caribbean, I visited our team in Haiti. Leaving the airport, I had just settled into a taxi bound for the mission guesthouse. Suddenly the driver slammed on the brakes, jumped out and stood at attention with his hand over his heart. “What’s going on?” I wondered. Then I heard music wafting through the airport loudspeakers: it was La Dessalienne, the Haitian national anthem.
When the anthem was finished, the driver got back in his car, apologized for the interruption, and resumed our trip. I was amazed at his patriotism, considering how little his government had given the people to be grateful for. But when I said something to him about it, he set me straight. “They play the anthem every day at noon sharp and any cab driver who does not stop and salute will lose his permit to work at the airport.”
How grateful I am that I live in a country where no one forces us to salute the flag or stand for the national anthem. For those of us who choose to do so, it is a free expression of gratitude to God for the many blessings he has poured out on our nation – and of appreciation for those whose sacrifices helped establish and preserve it. Having experienced life in a dozen other countries, I have come to appreciate what a privilege it is to be an American.
But even more, I am grateful that, as a follower of Jesus, I hold citizenship in another kingdom – a kingdom that includes this entire world yet is not of it (John 18:36). That kingdom may not yet be visible, but it is very real. It is a kingdom “which cannot be shaken,” (Hebrews 12:28) “whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10), a kingdom “in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13).
And I am moved beyond comprehension to know that those who pledge allegiance to our Lord Jesus Christ have been given the right to stand beside him and address his Father, the Ruler of that Kingdom, as “Our Father who is in Heaven…”
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, may God continue to bless our nation.
But above all, may his Kingdom come, and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
To him be power and glory and honor forever.
article by Duane Moyer, former BFC missionary and retired Board of Missions Director. This article originally appeared in Friday Prayer, the Board of Missions weekly prayer email in which Duane writes an opening thought each week and the BFC missionaries share up to date prayer requests. You can subscribe to Friday Prayer here.