10-16 ELS Teachers in DC

ELS Teachers Meet in Washington, D. C.

Many interesting, historical quotes peppered the memorials, monuments, and exhibits that we visited in Washington D.C. while attending the E.L.S. national teacher’s conference in August. This statement from Thomas Jefferson was on one of the inside walls of the Jefferson memorial: “God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are a gift from God?” A gift from God. How many of our fellow countrymen regard their freedom as a gift from God? St. Paul tells us, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). Yes, we are so blessed to be citizens of the United States of America. God has given us gifts of freedom, wealth, and opportunity that are unheard of in many countries.

President John Moldstad’s message in our Sunday worship service at the conference reminded us of how we are so blessed to be citizens of the United States, but also that we are blessed even more so as citizens of God’s kingdom. The earthly blessings of citizenship in America pale in comparison to those given to us as citizens of God’s kingdom. In the midst of turmoil throughout the world; we can be assured that our citizenship in heaven is secure because of the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Satan is the terrorist that threatens our salvation, and the war against the world and our sinful nature rages daily. But with God on our side, arming us with His Word, the battle is done. We know the war against the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh has been won for us. A single soldier, armed not with guns, tanks, or fighter jets, but with His precious blood, fought the battle for us. Jesus won the battle and opened the gates to heaven guaranteeing our eternal citizenship in God’s kingdom.

We should remember and believe that our earthly freedom comes from God and we should be continually thankful to the Almighty God for the blessings associated with our U.S. citizenship. But we should also remember the incomparable gift of citizenship in God’s kingdom that Christ gives us. Without God’s grace and mercy, and the sacrifice Jesus Christ made when He fought the battle for us, we couldn’t even approach the gates of heaven.

God gave us earthly life and earthly liberty in the United States of America; but He also gave us eternal life—a liberty and freedom from death and the devil, a citizenship in the most peaceful kingdom, the kingdom of heaven. There is no kingdom greater than the kingdom of God, and “no [earthly] power but of God.” How very blessed we are!

Cami Sonnenburg is a teacher at Heritage Lutheran Church and School in Apple Valley, Minnesota.