Does anyone else follow news of the British Royal Family? Even if you don’t, you've probably seen the news that the Duke ("Prince Harry") and Duchess of Sussex ("Meghan Markle") issued a statement that they intend to "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and to work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen."  

So, what does that mean? The couple basically wants to become part-time royals - keep the titles, the house they live in the UK that is owned by the monarchy, split their time between the UK and North America, keep their royal patronages but also have the chance to make their own money and be their own people outside of the royal family ("the Firm"). 

Part of my interest in royals is drawing comparisons between earthly royalty and how they can inspire us as an example of how we should act on this earth as heavenly royalty.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. -1 Peter 2:9

I've loved watching the Duchess of Cambridge ("Kate") step into her royal role over the years. Then, Meghan came into the royal picture and she brought a different viewpoint - from the beginning it was obvious she wanted to hold back a little of herself from "the Firm." She was going to remain her own person even as she tried to also fit into her new royal role. 

Here's the thing, although the Palace has released a statement that they're working out the details of what this arrangement would look like with the Sussexes, much like royalty here on earth, there really isn't a half in/half out heavenly royalty option.

We say we are His, yet we hold back a little. Or is that just me? Holding on to a little control over a few "small" areas of my life and schedule. A dash of past insecurities to comfort me even though He said I was made new in Jesus Christ; a favorite sinful distraction or pleasure we turn to when we need comfort; or a belief that the Bible's "legalistic rules" are old-fashioned and in need of "shaking up" to bring things into the modern times.

Many of us want to be called Christians and get all the benefits of our royal status as children of God, but we don't want to pay the social and personal cost of wearing the Crown.

We don't want the public scrutiny or mockery that comes with being different and set apart from our peers. We don't want the world to watch our every move, because we want to be able to do whatever we want. We don't want to be constrained or told what to do! 

Sure, we want to use our royal platform for good and tell others about our King, but we also want to share whatever we please even if it doesn't align with the monarchy's high standards. We want to be part of the establishment, but not all in. No, we want to keep back a little part of our individual self just for ourselves. One foot in an eternal kingdom and one foot in the world. 

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. -James 4:4

We also want to build up our own financial independence - to build up wealth and popularity on earth, to spend our money as we please, and to do what we want for work. 

Most of all, we try to constantly take control of our lives. We want to be in charge of choosing how we dress, what we watch, what kind of work we do, who we marry, how many, and if, we have kids. People today even want to choose their gender! We want to control all the timelines and to make things happen in the way we want them. Because today, unlike any other generation before us, we are privileged enough to do that. Especially for us women! We have more choices today than ever before and at times, we want to flaunt that. 

But isn't the only choice that truly matters the one where we decide to leave the old behind us and become new in Christ as we accept Him and believe in Him as our Savior?

In making that choice to become part of a royal priesthood, we surrender our own "I." You lay down your life for the "establishment" known as the kingdom of God. You take on His name. You become a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God (Is. 62:3). We give up any earthly treasures for heavenly ones; worldly inheritances for an eternal kingdom.

Above all, you lose your life for His sake (Mat. 10:39). Not parts of your life. All of it. Every life choice now becomes His. You are His and to the world, you will always be known as a reflection of Him.

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. -1 Peter 2:5

There are no levels of heavenly royalty. There are no distant cousins who get the titles but get to live their own lives or spare heirs like in earthly royal families. You don't get the benefits without the responsibility that comes with the title. We are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

Pardon this comparison, but Jesus isn't Prince William next in line for the throne while the rest of us are Prince Harry, free to do as we please because we'll likely never inherit a kingdom as the "spare." We are the direct heirs to a heavenly kingdom - sons and daughters of God through faith (Gal. 3:26). So, you're either a direct heir or you're not an heir at all.

Your choice is to step into that inheritance or step out of it. There isn't half in the Kingdom and half in the world; half dependent on Him and half independent. You either pick the world or you pick Jesus.

Please understand: if the world loves you, you are not His, because the world loves its own and you should not be of this world (John 15:18-20). And if you love the world or anything in it, then the love of the Father - the King of Kings - is not in you (1 John 2:15-16). 

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. -Matthew 6:24

The public attention and scrutiny that comes with wearing the Crown can be severe, I know. People notice when you do something even the world knows Christians shouldn't do - like when you curse, lie, cheat, commit sexual immorality, etc.. people will call you out on it. Because they notice you're different. Or they should, if you truly are a child of God and Christ lives in you.

Wearing His royal name comes with a higher calling and a lifestyle that is not your own. You work on behalf of and represent the Heavenly Monarch in everything you do - from the way you dress to whom you marry. Everything first gets approved by Him and everything is filtered through: "How will this reflect on the King? Will this bring Him glory?" We give our bodies as living sacrifice, in full service to His Crown and to the body of Christ to which we all belong. It’s a death to self and life to God.

"The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; the virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; they shall enter the King's palace." -Psalm 34:13-15

So, as Prince Harry and Meghan navigate how and if they're going to become part-time royals, maybe now is a good time to check in with ourselves if we've also maybe become part-time Christians? 

Maybe you didn't issue a public notice that you were stepping back...maybe it was a gradual fading as you little by little began to look like the world as you watched and followed what your friends posted and how they lived. Maybe you bought into false doctrines that told you it was all about you because God only wants to see you happy, not holy. Maybe the bullying and always being alone and apart from the crowd finally broke you down so you became like them just to make the mean comments stop or to finally be accepted. Maybe you chose your own ambition over a missionary call? Or maybe you just didn’t like the restrained lifestyle so you called it quits to do your own thing.

I don't know how it happened for you, but if, like for me, it has, let's spend more time on our knees praying in repentance and reading His word to learn more about what it means to be an image bearer and child of God; learning more about the character of God because that is what makes us look like Him. Say no to the voices telling you to make more of yourself; instead, make more of Him. Welcome back to the royal family, friend. It's good to be home, isn't it?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yelena is the founder and editor in chief Tirzah. Yelena works as an attorney in tax and in her spare time, she is working on her first book for unmarried twenty-something women in extended waiting seasons and running Tirzah. She has a passion for pointing young women to Christ, and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her family.