For
our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be
conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able
even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3.20-21)
 |
| Photo by Josh Felise on unsplash |
When we’re born again by the power of God’s Spirit, many
things happen to us, including: We become a child of God, we are made new in
Christ, we’re redeemed from our sins and forgiven, we’re indwelled by God’s
Spirit, we’re sealed by God’s Spirit and we become citizens of heaven.
We become citizens of heaven?
We are not just citizens here where we live in this world.
Christians have always been a heavenly people. What does this mean? Let me
share a parallel idea that I hope we can all grasp.
I am a Texan. I was born here, and except for when I
lived a couple of times in other states (Missouri and Colorado), this is
where I’ve always lived. I am a citizen here who votes in Texas elections, pays
local taxes, and carries a Texas driver’s license. “Texas born, Texas bred –
when I die, I’ll be Texas dead” (something
like that).
I love going to Tennessee, Alabama, New Mexico, Colorado
or other states. I’ve traveled to some other countries. When I’m in those places;
however, I don’t cease being a Texan. People will frame their opinion of Texas
partially by what they experience in me – good or bad.
The point is this: Although we are here for now, we are
citizens of heaven. We’re born from above, God is our heavenly Father, we’re
part of his heavenly kingdom and we’re his ambassadors in this world.
“So,” you say, “How can we be citizens of heaven when
we’ve never been there or seen it?”
That’s the difference in how God works and man works. You
have to live in the United States to become a citizen but in God’s system you
become a citizen of heaven first, before you ever go there. We’re heavenly
citizens now! (Ephesians 2.6)
This is just one reason heaven is so important to us.
We’re waiting for our Savior to return from there. He’s going to take us to be
with him there (John 14.2-3). He will remove all heartache, sorrow, disease,
death, tears, threats, sin, evil and falsehood (Revelation 21. 25-27). It will
be paradise (Revelation 22.1-5).
Christian, while living upon this earth for now, we
are not at home here. We are to be seeking a better country – heaven (Hebrews
11.16), and we are strangers and pilgrims here (1 Peter 2.11).
Heaven – Jesus told us to invest in it. The longer I live
my life, the more I realize that I am closer to the other side than ever before
and I’m beginning to understand that I have much more there than I do here.[i]
Sure, enjoy your life, love your family, get yourself a
house if need be, make a living, live each day to its fullest, but don’t forget
– you’re not home yet.
Life can be wonderful but be prepared to be shunned by
this world. Live joyfully but expect persecution.[ii]
Our best life is not here and it is not now. It is in
that land that is fairer than day – that home which awaits us in heaven.
Believe it.
[i] Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also. (Matthew 6.19-21)
[ii] “…what
persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all
who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy
3.11-12)
No comments:
Post a Comment