Philippians 3:17–21
If our citizenship is in heaven, why am I still living in this “foreign” land, on earth? Is my presence here only a temporary wait, or do I have a real value and duty here? This is a natural question. Some may have an even deeper one: “Can I be loyal to two kingdoms at the same time? How does my heavenly citizenship affect my present national identity?” Answering questions and thoughts like these, in today’s passage the apostle Paul sets the citizen of the world and the citizen of heaven side by side.
He says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (3:20). The word “but” is important here — it reveals the identity and the future both of the enemies of the cross of Christ and of believers in Christ. Paul says that one day Christ “will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body” (verse 21). For those who believe, this is a very great hope! Our sorrows, our sicknesses and our weaknesses will be gone forever. But before we think about heaven, our way of looking at this world needs to change. We must not sink into love for this world. As long as we are caught in love for this world, we cannot truly desire heaven. We must live here a life that suits a citizen of heaven. The full joy of heaven is not limited to the salvation of the soul; it is completed in the resurrection of the body. The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of our resurrection. He teaches that this mortal body of ours will put on immortality. But as long as we are in this world, we should use the blessings here with thanksgiving, as gifts of God, while our heart is always turned towards heaven.
Heaven is deeply connected to our present life and to our future hope. According to Philippians 3:20, our heavenly citizenship is not only something to be received in the future; it is a reality that has already begun. Once we believe in Christ, we have already become citizens of the heavenly kingdom in a spiritual sense. Heaven is not some vague place floating in the clouds, but the “new heavens and new earth” that God will restore (Romans 8:19–22; Colossians 1:20; Revelation 21:3). In the end heaven will come down to this very earth, where God will dwell with people. It will be a real, physical and renewed world, and we will be there in glorified bodies. To be a citizen of heaven does not mean leaving this world behind forever or running away from it. It means bearing our present sufferings with patience, in the hope of heaven.
We are like ambassadors of heaven and fellow travellers on this earth. Our heavenly citizenship is a living power that guides our daily life in this world. The chief attraction of heaven is to see “the glory of Christ.” The greatest privilege of heavenly citizenship is face-to-face fellowship with Christ and being changed into His likeness.
Prayer: Lord, always remind me of my heavenly citizenship. Keep me from the love of this world, and keep me ready for Your coming. Amen.