Passport to the Promised Land

By: Dale Weckbacher

Numbers 15:27-29

'And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering. 28 So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. 29 You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.

NKJV

When traveling to a foreign country, a person is required to have a passport.  In ancient Israel, the passport was offering up a sin offering.  Everyone living in the land was required to present a sin offering.  This requirement was for both native-born people and foreigners.  God was interested in there being only one law in the land for both natives and foreigners.  Without this uniformity in the rule of law, it becomes impossible to distinguish lawbreakers from those obeying the laws. 

The sin offering is also symbolic of the ultimate sin offering, Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross provided salvation to anyone that asks (Hebrews 9:23-28).  Belief in Jesus Christ and acceptance of His sacrifice on the cross provides is passport to eternal life in the presence of God and is provided to anyone that asks free of charge for the price was paid for with the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:8). 

For anyone that has ever traveled to Mexico, it is not difficult to understand why Mexico's citizens would look across the border and see the United States as a land of opportunity or Promised Land.  However, just as no one could stay in Israel without the offering of a sin offering or have eternal life with God without acceptance of God’s gift of salvation, people must have proper documentation to enter the United States.  Citizens of the United States have no problem with extending a hand to those desiring to pursue their dreams for most citizens of the United States are descendants of immigrants that came to pursue their dreams.  However, in order to insure the security of the country, we must know who they are and whether they intend to obey the laws of the country. 

There is a need for immigration reform but that does not include amnesty.  Like most parts of the government, the immigration system is a bloated bureaucracy.  People desiring to enter the United States can plan to spend close to $15,000 and the process can take up to three years according to Nick Adams, an Australian author.  (1)   This expensive and lengthy process is hardly something a poor person living in Mexico can afford.  However, this is no excuse for our nation to just open the door of the border letting anyone enter. 

Governor Perry of Texas has taken a lot of heat for his statement that Terrorists from ISIS may have already slipped across our open southern border with Mexico.  (2)  Governor Perry did state there was no clear evidence anyone from ISIS had crossed the border and was only stating the obvious, an open border is an invitation for anyone desiring to commit an act of terrorism in the United States.  This is precisely why nations have requirements for those desiring to live in their country. 

We live in the digital age, an age where we can access knowledge with a simple click of our mouse or a few swipes on our smart phone or tablet.  Granted, much of the information may be false or misleading but with a little work, one can sort through the data and determine the truth about almost anything.  In the digital age there is no reason why entering the country legally should cost thousands of dollars and take almost three years.  Immigration reform is not about amnesty but the introduction of technology that will streamline the bloated immigration bureaucracy and make it easier for those genuinely pursuing the American dream to enter our nation legally as our ancestors did. 

Unfortunately, government bureaucracies take on a life of their own and those working in them will resort to almost anything to preserve their existence.  Add to that the fact that these employees are unionized and their union will financially support any politician resisting efforts to reduce the immigration bureaucracy and we can see why politicians continue to speak of amnesty instead of streamlining the bureaucracy.  However, we the people have the power of the vote and must support candidates supporting real immigration reform that does not include amnesty but instead introduces 21^st century technology to the process. 

Legally entering the United States requires proper documentation.  I understand the desire of those seeking a better life and that they view the United States as a land of opportunity just as my ancestors did.  In the digital age, there is no reason why we cannot use technology to make it less expensive and faster for someone to enter the United States legally while insuring the nation’s security.  The only thing standing in our way is willingness of our leaders to break-up the current bloated immigration system and replace it with a 21^st century system that works more efficiently.

1. WND. Entering America legally a long, costly process. www.wnd.com. [Online] WND, July 26, 2014. [Cited: August 26, 2014.] http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/entering-america-legally-a-long-costly-process/.

2. Ollstein, Alice. Rick Perry: Iraqi Terrorists Likely Crossing The Texas Border. thinkprogress.org. [Online] ThinkProgress, August 21, 2014. [Cited: August 26, 2014.] http://thinkprogress.org/election/2014/08/21/3474264/rick-perry-immigration-2/.