A Heavenly Citizenship
By Emily Rose Massey
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV).
About fifteen years ago, there was a popular Christian apparel company called “Not of This World.” I used to own a few of their t-shirts and would often spot their NOTW logo on cars in my church’s parking lot where the merchandise was sold. The company’s name came from the phrase found in John 18:36, where Jesus says that His kingdom is “not of this world.” The NOTW logo on my t-shirt was a small reminder that although I live in this world, I am not of this world as a child of God, so my eyes need to be fixed heavenward. As a daughter of the King, I am a part of His Kingdom and, ultimately, a citizen of heaven. Although I experience various trials and pain in this life, my eternal hope in Christ means that heaven is my true home where all suffering will cease. It’s important that no matter what is going on around me, I fight to remember where my journey here on this earth leads.
The Apostle Paul reminds the church at Philippi about this eternal perspective: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV).
Intersecting Faith and Life:
As believers, because of our faith in Jesus Christ, our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life - the paperwork needed for entrance into our awaited home in heaven. This heavenly citizenship means we are to be set apart from the world as believers. Does your language, dress, entertainment, etc., reflect your heavenly citizenship? What area of your life may look more like the world? If Christ has saved you, He has given you the privilege of knowing Him and anticipating His full fellowship.
The more we behold our King, the more we become like Him and long to reflect Him to a lost and dying world. The world needs the hope of Christ, and we are to be carriers of that message that sets the captives free and gives them life eternal in Christ alone. We are to be eagerly fixated on the return of King Jesus, but all too often, temporal, worldly desires have our gaze. We cannot allow the temptations of this world and our weak flesh to entangle us into bondage Christ gave His life to set us free from. We must pray and ask God to strengthen us so that we do not give into these temptations and worldly desires. He always provides a way of escape from these temptations, and we must trust that He will never lead us astray. His ways are so much better than ours!
While here on earth, we can enjoy a small taste of glory as we become conformed to the image of Christ by God’s grace and the power of the Spirit. The Christian life is the process of growing in Christ-likeness- transformed through sanctification. The path of transformation leads to an eternity of transformation. Our bodies will be transformed from our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory. As believers, we joyfully submit to Christ’s Lordship in all things in our life. In the end, Jesus Christ reconciles all things to their right place; He sets all things right by the authority and might of His power. When the world gets dark, let’s remember to fix our gaze on our heavenly home that awaits us!
Further Reading:
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Romonolo Tavani
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