September 27: Tourism Day

 

September 27:  Tourism Day 

Tourism Day was established by The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 1980 to promote sustainable, responsible, and universally accessible tourism. Arguing that tourism benefits both the tourist and the locations that they visit, UNWTO has even established a “code of ethics” for tourists.  Interesting.

As citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we are tourists.  We are not residents, we are just “passing through.”  Do you believe that, and if so, what does that mean?  It means that we are “in” the world, but not “of” it.  Jesus prayed for us:   “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.^[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14-16)

Our mission is to transform ourselves, to the end that we might transform this world. (Romans 12:1-2).  And God Himself has established a “code of ethics” for us.  Matthew 5, 6 and 7 are that code.  Read it, embrace it, even memorize it.  Please do not misunderstand.  Our calling is not to “circle the wagons” and defend our turf while waiting for Jesus to return.  We are salt and light.  The Kingdom of God is like a small seed, like yeast that works its way through the entire lump of dough.  We do that by embracing that code of ethics and by surrendering our will to the Father’s will.  We are to pray, regularly, that His will would be done and that His kingdom would come, on earth as it is in Heaven. 

I recall reading the story of a man who was sent to prison for many years.  Unlike most others, when released, he never returned.  In fact, he became a productive and responsible member of society.  When asked what made the difference, he remarked that many inmates would decorate their cells.  They would do everything they could to make their living space feel as much like home as possible.  “I never did that.  I knew that this was not my home, that someday I would leave all this behind. Why pretend that it was my home?  I was destined for better things.”

So are we!  Let’s not treat this world and everything about it that stands against King Jesus as if they are our allies, as if this is our home.  We are destined for glory!  Let’s live and act like those who know where we are going and what will become of this world someday.  And let’s embrace our code of ethics while visiting.  That’s how we make every square inch of this world holy ground.