Kingdom People: Heavenly Citizenship
Recently I ordered a happy meal with my children from McDonald’s, and it came with a book about Superheroes. Wonder Woman and Bat Girl teamed up against Poison Ivy to save the day! It made me think about how so many fictitious stories are about good vs evil, heroes vs villains, and that actually, as Christians, we believe there is a spiritual reality going on around us which involves good vs evil. Ephesians 6:12 teaches us that our fight ‘isn’t against flesh and blood, but against spiritual principalities and evil in the heavenly realms.’ So, if there is a spiritual battle going on around us, the question is, whose side are you on? And, once you know which side you’re on, what does that mean for your identity?
In Philippians 3:18-21, Paul says, ‘many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.’
There are 2 identities at play here - the enemy of the cross or the citizen of heaven, with Jesus the Saviour.
When we put our faith in Jesus, we join the winning team- the team with the power to defeat evil and we live differently to the world; we become citizens of heaven.
This identity as citizens of heaven then changes 3 things:
1) Our diet.
2) Our direction.
3) Our destiny.
Firstly, our diet changes- what we feed on emotionally/spiritually- maybe physically too! Verses 18-19 says that for enemies of the cross, their god is their stomach and their minds are set on earthly things. They focus on earthly things, but citizens of heaven look to Jesus. The more we pray and read our Bibles, the less we can tolerate things that do not align with the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, our direction changes. Heavenly citizens don’t walk in the darkness, we walk in the light (Colossians 1:13). Before Christ, as an enemy of the cross, we were going one way, but through repentance- metanoia- a change of mind and therefore a change of direction occurs. We turn away from sin and turn towards our Saviour.
Thirdly, our destiny changes. For enemies of the cross, their destiny is destruction, but for citizens of heaven, our destiny is Jesus and a transformed resurrection body! Our early bodies are just a shadow of what we will be one day. Your current illness or struggles don’t define you! This world is great but there’s an even greater and more glorious destiny for those of us who are in Christ!
Today, you can do 3 things in response to this.
1) Adjust your diet. Take out anything that is not feeding you well and leading you in the ways of Christ. Perhaps it is the music or the TV shows you are watching.
2) Check your direction. Are you where you want to be? Put in regular spiritual rhythms of prayer and Bible reading which will realign your direction. Return to the Father.
3) Pray for your friends and family who don’t yet know Jesus. Continue praying that your loved ones would embrace a destiny with Jesus.