In October 2005, Moses Bittok celebrated an experience he had waited a lifetime to achieve: he became a U.S. citizen. That alone would have been enough to give the native Kenyan the happiest day of his life, but it was just a prelude.

On the way home from the Des Moines, Iowa, federal building, Bittok stopped at a gas station to see the winning numbers in the Iowa state "Hot Lotto Game." He was surprised to find out that he had won $1.89 million.

"It's almost like you adopted a new country and then they netted you $1.8 million," said Bittok. "It doesn't happen anywhere—I guess only in America."

In the same way, new life in Christ gives us citizenship into the kingdom of God and a heavenly reward.