Where Is Your Citizenship?
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He gave unique insight regarding what one should pray about. Matthew 6 and Luke 11 contain Jesus’ teaching and instruction about prayer. In this teaching about prayer, there is a section that reads: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10, NIV) Most look at this verse and make the point that we should pray about living for and obeying God on this earth just like those in heaven live for and obey God. This is a true thought, but I also think that Jesus’ teaching on prayer in this particular verse has more for us to understand.
When Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of God, He is speaking in reference to the church. Understand that when God established the church, He was establishing the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. When you and I become Christians, we are automatically enrolled in the “dual citizenship” campaign. While we live in this world, as Christians, we are heavenly citizens and earthly citizens. The New Testament leans heavily into this idea. In the book of 2 Corinthians, chapter 10, Paul teaches that Christians are called to be God’s ambassadors. All countries have individuals who are sent to other countries. For example, an American Ambassador represents the United States of America in other lands and countries. As Christians, we represent God’s Kingdom wherever we go.
The idea of dual citizenship was clearly understood in the first-century. The Roman Empire practiced the policy of planting colonies in foreign lands. While “colonizing” is a frowned upon idea in today’s world, it was a great honor in ancient times. One famous Roman colony was the city of Philippi. When Rome conquered Macedonia, Philippi was organized as a Roman colony city. When someone lived in Philippi, they had the same rights and privileges as people who actually lived in Rome. Rome intentionally placed colony cities in other lands to represent Rome and to advance Roman policies, ideas and values. With this in mind, Paul speaks to Christians living in Philippi and says: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20, NIV) The word “citizenship” is a word better translated as “commonwealth” or “colony.” It refers to a politically organized body with both laws and loyalties that govern their behavior. As Paul told the Philippians that the way they conduct themselves should be based on the life of heaven, they understood the concept. Again, remember, they understood dual citizenship. Paul’s teaching of earthly and heavenly responsibilities would be an idea they would grow to understand.
My goal today is to expand our thinking about the life God has given us and to which He has called us. Many, many Christians only see the work of Jesus as a means of salvation from sin (and staying out of hell). Yet, the “Good News” of the Gospel is that not only are we saved from sin, we have been made to live with God (aka—heavenly citizens). This thought is even better than you might realize. Heaven is not just a future promise (it is a great one by the way!). It is a present promise. We are part of God’s “invasion force” for this world. We are “heavenly agents” who are stationed here in this broken, dying world. The Apostle Peter speaks of this in 1 Peter 2:4-5, "As you come to him [Jesus], the living stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” These verses describe that Christians, presently, are being built together into a community (Kingdom). This earthly-heavenly hybrid has its basis in Christ. One of the truths that revolutionized the thinking of the early Christians was that God came to earth in the person of Jesus. This “heavenly invasion” resulted in God destroying the works of Satan. This is what Jesus was referring to in Matthew 16:18, "On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” The word “overcome” is better translated: “withstand” or “stand up against.”
While we have high hopes of a great heavenly reunion and celebration day sometime in the future (Judgment Day), we can and should rejoice as heaven has come to earth. Today, as citizens of heaven, Christians are blessed. God’s Spirit lives in all who follow Jesus. We are not on our own, struggling to survive in our own strength. We are God’s people. If God (and His heavenly forces) is with us, who can be against us? Keep looking up!