I am presently in Vanuatu, assisting the Church here with the re-building of church buildings destroyed in the recent cyclone. Vanuatu a number of years ago was voted the happiest people in the world and it's not hard to see why as you travel around this beautiful nation. The people here, though exceptionally poor and often seen as second class citizens by the many foreigners who have bought into this island nation, are continually smiling and enjoying the simple life they have. In fact the only grumpy or unhappy people I have ever met in Vanuatu in the 6 trips I have made here are the foreigners who have invested here.
This started to get me thinking about who we are as believers and the perception we leave on people though the bible also sees us as foreigners in the world. Jesus said in John 17:16 that we are not of this world just as He was not of this world. And yet Paul encourages the Corinthian church that they are all "ambassadors" and that they and therefore you and I represent another kingdom, the Kingdom of our God.
As therefore foreigners in this world and ambassadors for Christ I wonder how much of God's Kingdom we portray in our everyday life. Though living in the world are we displaying all that His Kingdom is or are we being conformed as Romans says to the world around us.
The Ni-Vans, or natives to Vanuatu are living happy and joyful lives despite their poverty and environment, do we do the same???
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