CELESTIAL CITIZENS

 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ  (Philippians 3:20)

A Christian is a citizen of two kingdoms.  Being born in the United States, I am an American citizen with all the rights and responsibilities that come with that status.  But, being born again from above, I am now a celestial citizen, belonging to the Kingdom of Heaven!  While I still pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, my ultimate allegiance is to the Lord God and His precepts.  My citizenship on earth will fade like the colors of the Star Spangled Banner, and eventually dissolve in time.  My citizenship in eternity will never cease and only becomes increasingly glorious as its fulfillment nears and is experienced forever.  The Bloodstained Banner of the Cross is the flag I now joyfully follow.  Although there are foretastes of Heaven down here, we know that this is nothing compared to what awaits us when Jesus returns.  Someday—and I pray today—our King will come.  Let us have our convictions, conduct and conversations in anticipation of that great reality.  The charge is sometimes made that Christians are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.  The truth is that those who have made the most significant impact in the world have been those motivated by the reality of the world to come.  C.S. Lewis put it this way, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”  If you have not bowed to the Lord Jesus Christ, pledge allegiance to Him today.  If you have—live like it!