Immigrant Who?Immigrate Where?

What does the term “immigrant” suggest to you? For me, the term has a negative connotation reinforced by pictures of illegal entrants into the US. Upon reflection, the term turns positive with memories of my Italian grandfather, who immigrated to this country at age 15, and the fact that I have benefited from his hard-earned financial success.

Consider that any US resident, who is not a full Native American, is or descends from an immigrant. If we did not immigrate to the US, one or more of our ancestors did. So, most of us are immigrants— immigrant blood runs in our veins.

Our connection to immigration may increase upon our deaths. 84% of Americans believe in an afterlife. Americans holding this belief do not agree on what the afterlife entails, but they effectively believe we will go somewhere else. If this belief is true, we will become immigrants again, but where to?

It’s an important question, because where ever it is, our residency there could last for eternity. Heb 13:14 says, “For here (on earth) we do not have an enduring city (our death ensures that), but we are looking for the city that is to come.” The implication here is that the city we seek will endure eternally. Eccl 12:7 says our bodies become dust, but our spirit “returns to God who gave it.”

Will our spirits immigrate to heaven… forever?  If so, what is the test for citizenship there? Will we pass this test?