Immigration - Sojourners on the Earth
By Mark Hatfield

Introduction
1. As each year passes we hear more and more about immigration and other issues 
surrounding illegal immigration (those who live in our country without permission 
while they are actually citizens of another country). From overstaying visits with 
an expired Visa to temporary work excursions, many are concerned about the issues 
that are developing from this reality. 
2. Immigrants move from their home countries in search of better jobs, more 
prosperous land, the hope of fulfilled promises etc. 
2. Spiritually we must understand that we no longer call this world, “home”. We 
are just passing through and we are immigrants with a true home is heaven 
3. While we once pledged allegiance to this world and the prince of it, we now 
look to the Lord above. Many people call this the land of promise in the United 
States when in reality our promises are waiting to be granted in heaven. 
4. Those who are God’s people are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20) and cannot continue 
to be comfortable here. We labor and keep walking the straight and narrow path because 
we want to go to our heavenly home and be reunited with our spiritual family. 
5. Immigration is about moving people from one country to another. No matter what 
physical country you are originally from, eternity is in your heart (Eccl. 3:11) and 
you should desire a better country with a city whose builder and maker is God. The 
Bible often refers to this place as the kingdom of heaven over which Christ is King of 
Kings and Lord of Lords.
6. While we do not want to take lightly the physical issue of immigration 
(overpopulation, customs, economic etc.) it will be our aim to point out that no 
matter where you live now, you need to make sure that you can move from this world 
into God’s kingdom when this life is over. 
7. Do you see yourself as a pilgrim that is just passing through always in search of
a better more pleasant and promising home? Are you comfortable here or is there 
something within you that says that there has to be more to this life than a few 
short years lived in survival mode only to return to the dust of the ground?

I. Immigrants will abide by the laws of the land in which they desire to live
A. The kingdom of God is no different
1. Let’s take the United States for an example and read the oath that new citizens 
have to make when they arrive from a foreign place to reside here:
The Oath of the United States reads,
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and
entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity
to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty,
of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or
citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution
and laws of the United States of America against all
enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true
faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms
on behalf of the United States when required by the
law; that I will perform work of national importance
under civilian direction when required by the law; and
that I take this obligation freely without any mental
reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God”
B. The United States will not allow its citizens to be half-hearted about 
commitment.
1. You cannot claim allegiance to and belong to the United States and then retain 
loyalty to some foreign government.
2. The Lord requires even more commitment from those who become a part of the 
kingdom of God.
3. Consider the following passages:
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather 
with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30)
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, 
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever 
does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” 
(Matt. 10:37-38)
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he 
has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33)
4. Some of you may be thinking, “Well, the United States doesn’t require us to 
renounce all things…” You’re correct!
5. We are called to the greatest commitment of all when we decide to follow 
Jesus and be a part of the kingdom of God.
6. Jesus has issued laws or commands that must be followed by those claiming to 
be a part of God’s kingdom
7. Many preachers say: “We no longer have law; that was under Moses.We are under 
grace, not law.” (a misuse of Romans 6:14)
8. Consider the following passages:
•	“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
•	“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And 
he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest 
myself to him.” (John 14:21)
•	“Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my 
Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever 
does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine 
but the Father's who sent me.’” (John 14:23-24)
•	“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have 
kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:10)
•	“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14)
9. “We have no commandments?” Not according to King Jesus
10. When you have no law, you have no kingdom; where there is no kingdom there 
is no Jesus…no salvation
11. Any group with a religious belief system that nullifies the plain words of 
Jesus is not a part of God’s kingdom.
12. Jesus forewarned us about the judgment and those who practice lawlessness 
(Matt. 7:21-23)
13. Lawlessness is defined as “not regulated by the authority of law”
14. Jesus told us the only way to make sure that we stand is to build according 
to His words. (Matt. 7:24-27)
II. Immigrants will move to a country because of the potential increase in wealth
A. People often consider the United States to be the land of promise and prosperity. 
1. If we have our priorities straight we will realize that the only lasting promises 
and real treasure can be found in going to heaven (Matt. 6:19-21; II Peter 1:2-11). 
2. Consider the following passages:
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a 
man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and 
buys that field.” (Matt. 13:44)
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on 
finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” 
(Matt. 13:45-46)
3. When immigrants make a move to another country they have to make sacrifices 
and look forward to their reward once they make it to their destination.
B. If we are going to make heaven our home then we must give our all to lay hold 
of its treasure.
1. In order to receive the riches of heaven, we have to be welcomed into the 
divine city by the Lord Himself. 
2. Are you living in such a way that the Lord will say, “Well done, good and 
faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”?

III. Immigrants will be called upon to fight when their new country is called 
to war
A. God’s kingdom requires its citizens to be prepared to go to war. 
1. It is unfortunate, but when immigrants leave their old country for a new one, 
in many cases their connection and close ties to people in their former land will 
be hostile toward them because of abandonment and a lack of loyalty to the 
traditions and customs they once knew. Often Christians have to fight this battle 
with those who love the ways of this world (Matt. 10:34-36) .
2. One thing is certain, that if the two countries met in battle, the immigrant 
had better to be careful to fight on the side of the country in which he was now 
a citizen (Eph. 6:10-13)
3. We are up against all the forces of evil every day. Are you fighting for the right?
B. We need to be willing to die for the cause of the kingdom and live for eternal 
life (John 12:25; Rev. 2:10)
1. The time has come for the people of God to rededicate themselves to the kingdom.
2. If you were asked to deny the name of Christ and it would cost you your life, 
would you continue to stand firm in your belief in Him?
3. Are we being true patriots in the kingdom of God or are we being traitors?

IV. Immigrants will adopt new ways of living and working in their new home
A. Immigrants move, believing a new way of living is awaiting them
1. How many of you have heard of the “American way” from the 1950’s? This 
referred to a specific set of values that each American was to follow in contrast 
with Communism
2. Similarly we have a “kingdom way” or “way of righteousness” and we have a set 
of values that must be upheld in contrast with the world.
B. Our values are always rooted and focused in eternity where we have our citizenship.
1. In the kingdom, eternity is not the main thing, it’s the only thing. Everything 
else is ultimately irrelevant and trivial
2. We can expect then that the laws of the kingdom would be revolutionary. These 
are eternal values.
C. Most people have been misled into thinking that the kingdom is some future entity
1. This caused worldliness to the highest degree, because if you don’t have a 
kingdom, then you don’t have a King. People are left to govern themselves. We all 
know what happens when this is the case.
2. When a person becomes a citizen of any country, and they are moved into the 
country, they begin their new life.
3. The kingdom of God is here and the saved have been moved into this new residency. 
(Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:4-7; Mk. 9:1)
4. The Lord does not bring us into His kingdom when we die, but rather when we are 
born again and renewed by the Spirit of God and added to the church by the Lord.
5. If we are a part of this kingdom, let us work hard and live a life that is 
respectable in the eyes of God and others. 

V. Immigrants live with appreciation and a dedication to their new authorities
A. The authorities are respected and obeyed
1. Many know that in the kingdom, the King is the highest in authority. We need 
to remember that in God’s kingdom, Jesus is Lord of all. If in immigrant is not 
adherent to the laws of their King, they are deported.
2. It is not uncommon to see people try in vain to dethrone Jesus by demeaning 
Him and His teaching.
3. Jesus’ teaching was not just “nice thoughts for the day” as some would say.
4. Most of us have heard the teachings of Jesus so many times that we have become 
calloused to their real meaning 
5. Take the laws of the road for example: Speed limit 25, buckle up, slow down 
construction zone).
6. We talk about the “Beatitudes” (Being everything that God wants you to be), 
the “Golden Rule” (Helps us deal with our fellow man) and “going the extra mile” 
(what a sweet thought)
7. Jesus was not trying to give us some trite sayings or clichés etc.
8. In some Bibles Matt. 5:1-10 is printed in poetic format as though Jesus was 
giving some poetic speech to an audience (Picture Jesus at a public arena with 
a dim candle light glimmering off of His face as his audience shares a common table 
beverage feeling good about themselves and admiring the Lord’s way with words.)
9. Jesus never wanted the crowd to go home speaking of the beautiful words that He 
shared that day.
B. The Lord was challenging His followers to the core of the soul (Matt 5:3, 8, 10).
1. He was trying to prepare them for the kingdom that would require a higher 
standard of living.
2. Jesus wanted to give them a new set of values and laws together with a new 
life.
3. The Oath of God’s Kingdom:
 “I hereby declare , on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce
and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Lord,
Savior, kingdom or King, of whom or which I have heretofore
been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the
values and laws of the kingdom of God against all enemies,
satanic and demonic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance
to the same; that I will bear God’s armor on behalf of the
kingdom of God when required by the law; that I will perform
work of global importance under His direction when required
by the law and that I take this obligation freely without any
mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God”
4. God help us to be more dedicated and committed to His kingdom!

Conclusion
1. The Bible is very clear in laying out the way that a citizen of heaven should 
live in light of what we have studied tonight (II Cor. 5:1-11)
2. If you are a Christian that you have been added to the church (the kingdom) by 
the Lord. While you are on this pilgrimage on earth to reach your home, we do 
whatever it takes to overcome the trials and tribulations that we face, know that 
one day we will be rewarded (Rom. 8:16-18). 
3. If you want to be a part of the kingdom of God, count the cost and make that 
choice today.
4. If you are in the kingdom, but you need to rededicate yourself to the Lord do 
it right now.
5. Let us have faith to echo the word of the apostle Paul when we are facing life 
as a sojourner (II Tim. 4:7-8, 18).