In a previous blog, I mentioned that I recently visited the country of Nepal. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there. I was treated so well by the people and it was a great experience. However, my visit there gave me a renewed appreciation of how fortunate we are in the United States.
The reason for this is the Nepal is a poor country. It is also a country that is subject to earthquakes. Unfortunately, for the people, the government does not take the interest of the people to heart. Today, almost two years after the last major earthquake, many people are still living in tent like structures and wooden shacks because their homes were destroyed in the earthquake.
The roads are in need a major repair. There are often gas shortages and people cannot get to work or cook their food. Employment is a problem.
In addition, Nepal has a long history with Hinduism. It has impacted everything. According to Hinduism a person is born into the circumstances they are in because of past lives. This has resulted in a caste system where it is maintained that some people are in difficult situations because of what they did in these past lives.
It is impossible to see these things, being from the United States, and not feel for the people. It is also impossible not to count one’s blessings.
One day, while in Nepal, I was in a taxi. The driver spoke English fairly well. We drove by this very large and beautiful building. It was surrounded by a wall and the front gate was manned by security guards. In a poor country this building definitely stood out.
I asked the driver what the building was. He told me that it was the United States embassy. He said that he had applied for a job there, but was turned down. He then said that people all over Nepal would love just to visit it, but they can’t.
That building was a reminder of my blessings. It was a reminder of my home. It was a reminder of where I was going when I left Nepal. I have to admit that I felt a great deal of pride driving by that building. I knew that was my embassy.
I returned to the United States about a week later. It was great having all the material blessings that are ours here. However, as believers in Jesus Christ our citizenship is in an eternal Kingdom. Our King will return from heaven and bring us into the Millennial Kingdom and then the eternal state (Philippians 3:20).
The Embassy in Nepal allowed me to get a glimpse of what awaited me. In the Word of God we have the same. In many places it gives us a glimpse of what it will be like when we get home.