A Citizen of God's Kingdom

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20

I met a woman a few weeks ago who, as a means of introduction, said, “I’m from Germany, my passport is Swiss, but my citizenship is in Heaven.”  WOW.  How many times have we read that verse from Philippians, and how many times have we actually acknowledged its truth?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been consumed with anxiety.  Unrest in the Middle East, especially Egypt and now Bahrain, has hit close to home.  People are dying on streets that God led me through just 3 weeks ago, and I don’t even know how to pray or what to pray for.  On top of it all, as an American, I’m suddenly confronted with the knowledge that my government and my country is on one side of these protests, and America doesn’t always end up looking so good.  While I’ve always been proud to be an American, I’m scared of what is to come for our dear country.

In the midst of all of this worry, I have come before the Lord, and time and time again, He has led me to Philippians 3:20: 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whatever may come, I will trust in the Lord and remember that my citizenship is in Heaven.  I am a citizen of God's kingdom, and my loyalty is to my heavenly Father, no matter what happens on this Earth. 

Furthermore, Philippians 3:21, which is far less famous than the preceding verse, continues:

²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Here we stand, in the midst of a chaotic and broken world, and we hold the treasure of a relationship with the only one who can make all things right.  The Lord we serve, who is our king, our president, & our prime minister, He alone can bring “everything under his control.”  Praise God that we serve the almighty of Heaven, the Lord of lords, and the King of kings. 

No matter what may happen in our lives or in our world, we are utterly secure in our Heavenly citizenship.  Rest in His love and His truth, my dear friends.