My country is. . . .

A friend here from another country is seeking permanent resident status. National laws and red tape make the process slow and cumbersome. A few urge her to be aggressive and put more pressure on various agencies to get her citizenship status changed, but she is not going to do that. As a Christian, she knows that no matter what happens here, her true citizenship is not on this earth. 

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 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 3:18–21)

Many biblical passages affirm that those who are in the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ are not of this world. However, this does not mean we can ignore the responsibility of living here. Our friend has a job. She takes serious the work she is given even though her abilities are not used to the full. She would not dream of abusing the privileges or freedoms she has. 

While those born in this country might resent those who come here a refugees, most of the refugees we know are hard-working and thankful people. They are doing what God charged His people to do when they were exiled to Babylon. In that OT narrative, and contrary to what they might have expected, God told them:

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (Jeremiah 29:4–7)

For those who realize their true citizenship is in heaven, and even though we will inherit the earth when it is made new in the kingdom (Revelation 21:1), nevertheless in a profound sense this world is not our home. The Bible says that when we are away from our bodies we will be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). For that reason, we are not to be conformed to this world in our attitudes and lifestyle. Our lives “are hid with Christ in God” and we have been “rescued … from the domain of darkness and transferred … to the kingdom of his beloved Son” and have “passed out of death and into life.” Clearly, we are exiles and strangers here, and here to bring glory to the God who has adopted us as His people.

Reading the Bible shows me what that means. I’m to love God and my neighbor, do to others in the way I want to be treated, honor the Lord, respect those in authority over me, and obey all that the Lord says. Being “in this world, but not of this world” is not always easy for the ways of God are not the same as human or worldly ways. This is why our friend is not fighting for any “human rights” — she knows the privilege of being a citizen of a far greater realm than this one.

PRAY: Lord, I am thankful that my status is not mere ‘pie in the sky’ but being an ambassador in this foreign land as a citizen of Your kingdom. I represent heaven on earth, an amazing status and a great responsibility. How I need Your grace and enabling to be what You have called me to be, and serve You instead of bowing to all that this world offers. 

What is heaven like?

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places . . .  (Ephesians 1:3)

Heaven is hard to imagine. Once I realized eternity is without time and is all ‘now’ rather than past, present, and future, imagining it became even more difficult. The OT says it is unknown, and the NT says we cannot imagine it, and yet God does reveal many things to us by His Spirit:

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit . . . (1 Corinthians 2:9–10)

Jesus said it is a “kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Paul wrote about it in connection to our bodies. The physical will perish, but we are only living in that body like a person would live in a tent. He said:

For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 5:2–5)

That and other passages tell me that I will have a new body. One compares it to a seed that dies but a plant grows from it, and that plant is not like the seed. This new body is imperishable, meaning no more sickness or aging. It does not say if that means new like an infant though, nor tell what the bodies of babies who died will be like, nor say anything about pets or animals in heaven, only that we will be changed and be like Jesus.

The NT also describes heaven as a city with jewels in the walls and gates and streets of gold, even calling this city “the Bride” as the “wife of the Lamb” further mystifying heaven.

Jesus told His disciples that it was a definite place and that He would be there:

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:2–3)

For me, that is enough. I can speculate what I might be doing, but know that worship and praise will be a huge part of it. Will I paint sunsets and have long visits with loved ones? Will I dance with Jesus? Lots of ideas but the only certainty is that life after death will be incredible and awesome.

Today’s devotional says that most Christians are more occupied with this life than the next, forgetting or ignoring that this is not our home; we are just passing through. MacArthur says “Christians hold a dual citizenship. We are citizens of earth, but, more importantly, we are also citizens of Heaven.” He quotes passages that tell me to think that way:

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)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1–4)

While age tends to bring on thoughts of heaven, God wants all His children to have an eternal perspective. If I put my life on a continuum line representing eternity, it is a mere dot, or perhaps like a tiny molecule in a sea of forever. Living His way is about seeking first His kingdom and righteousness, about not letting the cares of this world overtake His promises about the next, and about putting to death all that is sinful and worldly. It is also about telling others of Jesus, who is my everything — both in this life and the next. I know enough about heaven to want everyone to be there!

RESOURCES: Matthew 25:34, 1 Corinthians 15:35-56, 1 John 2:17; 3:1-3, Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:2-27,

 

This is not my home

 

 

READ Luke 13-16

Dory (not her real name) is from another culture on the other side of the world. She has trouble understanding our norms and we are puzzled by some of her ideas. As I read Jesus’ descriptions of His kingdom, I realize how odd Christian thinking could appear to those outside of it. We live in this world but are not of it. His ways are contrary to the world’s culture. Today’s reading gives some examples:

In God’s kingdom, sin is not measured by degree. Everyone is called to repentance, regardless of what they have done. “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:4–5) But God gives many second chances (Luke 13:7–9), something worldly cultures seldom do.

In the Kingdom, Sabbath represents ceasing our own efforts to please God and resting in what Christ has done, yet we are also to do good work in our ‘day of rest’ meaning our entire Christian life. “ . . . Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” and “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” (Luke 13:14–16; 14:3-6) These ‘works’ are not to earn salvation but to show God’s loving heart to others.

This kingdom will grow naturally and cannot be stopped. “It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches” and “like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” (Luke 13:18–21)

There is no hierarchy in God’s kingdom for “some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:29–30) “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:10–11) We are to invite everyone into it, including “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” yet realize not everyone will come. Some will make excuses. (Luke 14:13–2)

Those who do come will realize this is a costly decision for it means abandoning all else to serve Christ. “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26–33)

Kingdom citizens will befriend those that others reject and rejoice when sinners repent rather than cling to any ‘self-righteousness’ and think we do not need to repent. We know “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:1-10)

Those who come to Christ realize no one is worthy, whereas there will be others who are ‘religious’ and resent those who are truly in the kingdom. Jesus illustrated this in the story of the prodigal, and the reaction of his brother when he came home. (Luke 15:19–30)

In God’s kingdom, faithfulness is measured first by little things honestly done and by being trustworthy with what belongs to others. (Luke 16:10–12) God considers how we need to learn gradually.

He also knows we cannot serve Him and money. Kingdom hearts are fully devoted to Him, unlike the culture where wealth is a priority. “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13)

In fact, all values in God’s kingdom are opposite to what the culture values: Jesus said, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)

We think differently about everything, including fidelity in marriage, obedience to government, how to raise our children, and how to treat others. Our response to God’s Word and to the resurrection is not the same as those outside the kingdom. Jesus even said, ”If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31)

Lesson: Do not be upset when people misunderstand me or my motivations for doing things, or treat me as if I live on a different planet because in one sense, I do; my home is not here. I am a citizen of heaven and in this life, I am just passing through.