Heavenly Citizenship

In Philippians 3:20 we read, in our King James Version, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." That is a beautiful truth. However, a richer translation and a more literal presentation is, "For our citizenship is in heaven."

This fits in so beautifully with what Paul exhorted us in verse 17, where he calls us to follow him and those who walk with him and walk like him. The point is that we must let it be clearly seen by all those around us that we are citizens in Christ's heavenly kingdom. Doing that, our walk of life here below will be very distinctively different from that of those who are citizens in Satan's kingdom of sin.

We look for Christ to come. The world is clearly looking for the Antichrist to come. It is feverishly working, not only politically and socially, but also in all its inventions and institutions of education to realize one world. Men think, foolishly, that what God did at the tower of Babel they can undo. Seeking to heal the breech between all the nations and people in this world, so that they will have world peace that enables them to walk in sin with pleasure and prosperity, they show citizenship in that kingdom of darkness.

But we, by God's grace, look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come and to establish His kingdom of heaven here on this earth. The question is whether only our lips say that our citizenship is already in that kingdom, or whether our walk of life in every detail reveals love to God and love to Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

What does your life say? Many who call themselves Christians live a life that is antichristian. Does your walk of life tell YOU that your citizenship is in heaven? and that you are looking for Christ to return to bring in that sinless kingdom wherein is found only love toward God with praise and glory to His name?

What blessed citizenship that is!

Read: Colossians 3:1-17

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Jeremiah 48 ; Jeremiah 49:1-22 
2 Timothy 4:1-22 
Psalm 95 ; Psalm 96:1-13 
Proverbs 26:9-12 
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Quote for Reflection:

"… et a universal doctrine may be understood as taught here, — that if we desire to form our life aright, we must especially strive to restrain the tongue, for no part of man does more harm."  – John Calvin