Citizens of Heaven

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Philippians 3:20

The greek word translated as conversation in this verse means citizenship. Our citizenship is in heaven if we’ve truly become part of the body of Christ by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To be born again is to be born from above, that is, from heaven. Once we have new life in Jesus, we stop living like the world lives. We are new creations in Christ and it’s our duty to live in a way that becomes God and His kingdom.

It’s like God has issued you a passport, stating that you are a citizen of heaven. You are free to travel throughout the world, upholding the standards of the country that issued you the passport. God calls His citizens to live lives of sacrificial love, mercy, kindness, goodness, faith and so on. When citizens of the world see that you are a child of Christ, they should be inspired to be born again! That’s God’s plan for the multiplication of His Word.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10

God’s will is always done in heaven. Oftentimes it’s not done in earth. As citizens of heaven, our job is to always do the will of God in the earth. The will of God is always done by those seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Citizens of heaven are obedient children. Obedient to the commands of God as found in His Word and as issued by the Holy Spirit to our hearts. God’s commandments are simple to understand. He wants us to praise Him, worship Him, thank Him, read His Word, pray, fast, seek His face, preach the gospel to the church and to the world, walk in the Spirit. Doing all things to glorify Jesus Christ and His Father God. This is the life of a citizen of heaven.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

1 Peter 2:11

We are foreigners in this earth. Christ said His kingdom is not of this world. We are missionaries to the earth, sent from heaven by Jesus Christ. While we are going about doing the will of the Father, the enemy of our souls is trying to get us to lust and sin against God. The devil is trying to win our hearts back to him. We must guard against the devil’s wiles by ALWAYS DOING THE WILL OF GOD. Righteousness should be a habit for those that have been in Christ for any length of time. We are to pick up our cross daily and follow Christ. Being obedient unto death. Dying to self. Living to do the Master’s will. That’s the calling of a citizen of heaven. Be faithful during your short time in this world, and Christ will give you a crown of righteousness, for one who lived victoriously in this present evil world.