‘But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the LORD Jesus Christ.’ (v20) Philippians. 3:15–21
Christianity is future-proofed. History will end with Christ’s return. If we don’t believe that, then the whole message of redemption unravels. We are also encouraged that mortality is merely a brief delay to immortality with God.
Francis of Assisi commanded death to work as God’s slave and carry his ailing body into God’s presence. Death is not to be feared, for Christ has conquered death. It now serves one purpose only; to carry God’s followers into God’s embrace. Even greater news! God’s kingdom begins even this side of death. Filled with God’s Spirit, we can live as citizens of heaven, our true nationality from the moment we choose God.
The Holy Spirit is our passport and we enthusiastically demonstrate the culture of our homeland to which we shall eventually return. As exiles, displaced people in time and space, we invest all our energy introducing the earthbound to the possibilities of an unseen yet practical life of hope, regardless of the realities presented by our mortal existence.
It has been said of Christians that they are too heavenly-minded to be of any earthly use. I say, until we are heavenly-minded we cannot be of any earthly use. We live as advocates and guides to a kingdom built upon faith, hope and love.
RELATED SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Isa. 25:1–9; 1 Cor. 13; 15; 2 Cor. 5:1–10.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: How does imagining heaven influence the life decisions you take?
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, help to live with my heart in God’s heaven, and my feet on earth. Amen.’
Photo by Rastan from Depositphotos
