Since I was young, I’ve always wanted to go to Australia, thanks to the “Crocodile Dundee” movies that were popular in the 1980s. I’m not sure why the idea of wrestling crocodiles lured me into deciding on the “land down under" as my top choice.
I’ve yet to visit any country except a few border towns in Mexico, which is quite common for southern Californians. Before we had any children, my husband and I went down to Ensenada with our church to help build a youth camp. While there, we were able to go into town and explore the shops and taco stands. I still remember how I felt in a foreign country, how I couldn’t understand the language (my high school Spanish was of no use in Mexico), and how the customs were different than in San Diego.
While I enjoyed experiencing a different pace of life, the street tacos, the shops, and the crazy taxi rides (okay, maybe not that part), we didn’t actually live like the locals. Although we were in Mexico, we were just visiting. Being in Mexico didn’t change the fact that we were Americans. During our short stay across the border, we still lived like Americans, knowing that in a few days, we’d go home.
Did you know that the moment we accept Jesus into our hearts, we gain heavenly citizenship (Ephesians 1:13-14)? We are no longer citizens of Earth but just visitors passing through, kind of like how we were just visiting and passing through Mexico. This world is not our home nor our final destination.
Paul tells us in Philippians 3:20, that “our citizenship is in heaven.” In an earlier passage, he exhorts the church to, “live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (Philippians 1:27 ESV).
So, even though you live on Earth, you ought to live as if you belong in heaven—because if you have accepted Jesus into your heart, you do!
With this new role, we also have a responsibility that we are called to. Rather than sitting back, living like we always have, and waiting for heaven to come to us, we have work to do.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
So what exactly does the life of someone who is a citizen of heaven look like?
I’ve discovered three main areas that set us apart from those who do not follow Jesus:
How do you live in the world but not be of the world? I have a friend who loves to talk about this topic—being in San Diego without being San Diego… being in the world, without being the world. It’s not easy. In fact, I’d venture to say it may be one of the more difficult aspects of being a citizen of heaven while still living on Earth.
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do” isn’t exactly my life philosophy. Just because everyone else is doing “it” doesn’t mean that I should, too. We’ve all heard the timeless excuse from kids when their parents interrogate them after doing something foolish: “Everyone else was doing it.” And of course, the cliché response: “So if everyone else jumped off a bridge, you would, too?” Cue the inevitable eye-rolling.
As citizens of heaven, we are called to be set apart, to be different from everyone else. We aren’t supposed to live as the world lives (Romans 12:2).
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11 (ESV)
Those who have not yet decided to follow Jesus aren’t held to the same holy standard as those who have. Because of this, it may seem like we have to give up a lot when we decide to get saved.
Sure, we could go on living as if we are citizens of Earth, never truly claiming our new identity; however, the Bible warns about living like this. If you have given your life to Jesus, you belong to Him. If you do not resist the desire to keep living as the world does, you are taking a huge risk.
Paul talks about people who live like this even though they know better in Romans 1:32 (NLT): “They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.”
It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of sin, so I avoid it at all costs. The problem with sin is that it wants to enslave us and keep us from God. The beauty of salvation through Jesus Christ is that we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6-22). And God always gives us a way out of sin (1 Corinthians 10:13).
I’ve found the following practices essential if I am to live a life free from sin's control, and as a citizen of heaven:
-Abide in Him by reading the Bible and praying
-Love God and others to the best of my abilities
-Serve where and when I can
-Worship God in all that I say and do
When my kids were little, I would tell them, “You can be anything that you want to be.” I said this to instill confidence in them and to encourage them to think big about the things they wanted to accomplish in their lives. Now that they’re older, I still tell them this, but I remind them that in all of their striving to become something, it should always start with seeking God first.
One of my life verses is Matthew 6:33 (ESV), “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
When we seek God’s kingdom above all else, it affects everything else we do in life, our relationships, health, careers, and choices. You don’t have to be a pastor or a missionary, or even work in a ministry field to do kingdom work. Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) tells us that any work we do is kingdom work: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Living with a kingdom-minded perspective keeps our heart in alignment with God’s, and when our heart aligns with His, we can be sure that we are doing kingdom-minded work. When we look at it this way, even the most seemingly meaningless job can become significant.
When you feel hopeless about your career, ask God to show you how you can do kingdom work right where you are. Perhaps there’s someone in your workplace God is urging you to reach out to and share His love with.
Who knows, you may be in your current position “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14 NIV).
Nothing goes to waste in God’s kingdom.
Have you ever just had this feeling that you don’t belong here? Or that there’s got to be more to life than this? Sometimes, I experience a deep longing, even aching, in my soul that absolutely nothing in this world can satisfy. I can’t shake this feeling no matter what I do.
The only explanation that makes sense is that I really don’t belong here. As I witness the atrocities that take place in this fallen world, I find myself longing to go to heaven more and more.
“For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.” 2 Corinthians 5:2 (ESV)
Even though God declared the Earth good after He created it, thanks to sin, it’s nothing like God’s original design. As beautiful, and even breathtaking, as Earth is, with its towering mountains, flowing waterfalls, crystal clear oceans, and variety of plants and animals, heaven is even more spectacular.
In church, we often sing a song by Phil Wickham, “Hymn of Heaven.” As the song begins, “How I long to breathe the air of heaven,” my throat tightens and tears already start brimming my eyes. I envision the day I will meet Jesus face-to-face, and, as the lyrics go, the day I will “join the resurrection and stand beside the heroes of the faith,” lifting up my voice in praise to our risen Lord and Savior.
There, in the high school auditorium where my church meets each Sunday morning, is the closest to heaven that I will get while still stuck here on Earth. As I await my turn to enter those pearly gates, I will live as a citizen of heaven, seeking God first in all I do, not fitting in with the world around me, and keeping a kingdom-minded perspective.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Yuri_Arcurs
Jennifer Jabbour resides in the scenic San Diego countryside with her husband, adult son, and teen daughter, and their hilarious English Bulldog. Jennifer has a B.A. in Integrated Business Communications, and is a Go + Tell Gals licensed life coach. Jennifer hopes to use her calling of writing, coaching, and speaking to equip and empower women to clarify their vision and to boldly step forward in response to God's calling on their life, as well as educate and encourage others to experience the abundance of God's goodness when they seek Him first in all that they do. Jennifer is also a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a photographer, and an avid outdoors-woman. She loves camping, hiking, running, and playing the piano in her free time.
You can keep up with Jennifer on her website https://www.jenniferjabbour.com.