Tuesday, 28th February 2023

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

TOPIC: OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN

THEME SCRIPTURE: But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Philippians 3:20

 

PREPARATORY QUESTION:

1. Are you aware you are a citizen of heaven?
2. What should it mean to you, to be a citizen of heaven?

 

Citizenship is very important. Your citizenship alone can grant you an advantage or incur you a disadvantage. As a result, many people in this life have sought to change their citizenship or hold onto dual citizenship. Citizenship is an allegiance to a state, and vice versa. When it comes to citizenship, each country determines the conditions under which it is awarded, recognized, or withdrawn. Jesus, before leaving the earth, made a remarkable statement about His people. He said, “they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16). Signifying that, even though we are physically in this world, our citizenship and origin are not of the world.

The other interesting thing is that the Holy Scriptures provide us with an understanding of how God sees us and what we have become in Christ. This is why some scriptures are not God’s promises but rather God’s present-tense reality concerning you and me.

One of the most important facts of God concerning you is this: you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable number of angels in festal gathering (Heb 12:22). We have come to Mount Zion, meaning we have arrived there. This is remarkable to know.

By the Spirit, Apostle Paul also reminded the believers in Philippi that their citizenship is not of this world. Instead, their citizenship is in heaven. It suggests that our allegiance is to heaven and that heaven’s allegiance is to us. The activities of heaven are constantly geared towards our protection, provision, and promotion. Our security is heaven’s concern, as is our welfare too.

But that was not the ultimate point of the Spirit through Paul to the believers. The ultimate point is that being citizens of heaven means we will return to our home country someday. Precious One, Jesus is coming again. He is coming again and this time to gather heaven's citizens out of this world. Like the parable of the tares, He will first gather the wheat (heaven's citizens) into His barn but the tares He shall burn with unquenchable fire. On that day, this our perishable body shall put on the imperishable, and this mortal body shall put on immortality (1 Cor 15:53). Glory to Jesus!

Precious one, heaven is your home and no matter what, do not let your heart be troubled. In your Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so Jesus would have told you. He is gone to prepare a place for you. When He is done, He will return again and receive you unto Himself (John 14:1-3)

Beloved, if you can always walk with this consciousness—that you are a citizen of that heavenly Jerusalem, from where Christ will be returning—your life will experience a bold shift. Your success factors will change. You will begin to enjoy heaven’s allegiance, but also, heaven will demand your allegiance. Your perspectives would change and you will be more heaven-focused than earth-focused. You are God’s own, and heaven’s citizen. So think and act like one. From today going forward, your heavenly citizenship is driving and also underpinning all your actions and decisions in every matter, In Jesus' Precious name. Hallelujah!

FURTHER READING – Hebrews 12:18-24

 

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1. In every country there are non-citizens living there. As believers, we are non-citizens living in the world. Our advantages in the world system are very limited. How then must we live or conduct ourselves as non-citizens of this world?

 

CONFESSION

Precious Father, thank you for what you have made me in you. I confess this day that I am of God. My origin is in Christ Jesus, and as a result, my allegiance is to heaven, from where I have come. As a citizen of heaven, I am tuned towards my homeland, working day by day for that city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is Jehovah. Hallelujah!

 

1-Year Bible Reading Plan

Leviticus 3; Leviticus 4; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 13