But Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20
The Romans understood that citizenship is obtained by purchase, military service, or release from slavery. Citizenship in heaven begins with humility, passes through the dark valley of repentance, and into heaven where righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit reside for all eternity. On earth, two communities exist, one ruled by the world, the other ruled by heaven. The consequences of the fall of man subject him to troubles that hinder the soul as he conducts himself according to the laws of sin. The believer, governed by the laws of heaven, awaits the return of Jesus, his Savior and Lord, deliverer, preserver, and Master. On earth, the Christian pilgrim awaits the Lord’s return to carry him to heaven. As a citizen of heaven, he promotes the interests of that glorious place to which he belongs, learning its ways, obeying its laws, watching over its interests. Sojourner on earth, citizen of heaven.
The darkness of the world presses in on us, threatening to dim the light within us. Yet love pours out of us because we have faith that our Savior will return for us. Not by our power, but by His Almighty power, not by sight but by faith are we changed. He is creating within us a holiness of soul. That we would allow our hearts to recognize what it means to be citizens of heaven now; merely strangers and foreigners on earth. Our thoughts and affections are above, heavenly. Our words and actions governed by our Savior. We conduct ourselves as citizens of heaven and pilgrims on earth. Because heaven is our home, we love it. As citizens of heaven, we have duties and rights. Though sojourners on earth, we are to keep ourselves unspotted by it, standing above the waves of this troublesome world, thoughts often drifting to heaven. We are to be mindful of our Father’s business, the King of kings. We correspond with Him through prayer.
Are you walking worthy of your vocation as a citizen of heaven? Are you careful to discern between good and evil in the choices you make? Are you aligning your life with your heavenly citizenship, choosing to live a life pleasing to God in all that you say and do? Have you walked through the dark valley of repentance and into the glorious citizenship of heaven? If not, this is your day to pray, “But Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, the sky, not the grave, is our goal; oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.”