But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, …. Philippians 3:20
What does it mean to be a citizen? Currently, there is great upheaval in our nation surrounding the question of citizenship. There are numerous conversations and debates about who belongs and who does not. Some of us may even be drawn into taking a stance on this issue. But who do we really represent, are we citizens of heaven or citizens of earth?
Many years ago, I arrived in the USA as a citizen of my home country. I carried my country’s passport with pride, sang our national anthem, enjoyed the privileges of my identity, even as I acknowledged its limitations. A few years after my arrival in the USA, I renounced my former citizenship and surrendered my former passport. I became an American citizen. This new status conferred all the privileges, responsibilities and limitations of this country upon me. The imprint of my former identity was still within me, but I had to learn what it meant to be an American citizen. I studied the culture, history, politics, special celebrations and social norms, including learning the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem as I took on my new identity as an American citizen. Almost three decades later, this remains a slow, gradual, learning and growing process. My identity is clear to me though: I am now an American citizen.
In Philippians 3:20, Paul reminds the Philippians that they are citizens of heaven. Once they were children (citizens) of darkness but now, they are children (citizens) of light. This new status confers the privileges and responsibilities of their heavenly abode upon them. But it is a gradual learning and growing process. This is why we see Paul encouraging them to press on toward the goal as they eagerly await a Savior from there.
We too have been called from darkness to light. We have taken up a new identity and now represent the Kingdom of God to the world. Through his Son, Jesus Christ, God has conferred all the rights, responsibilities and privileges of heaven on us. We are in a “now, but not yet” state, as we continuously study the Word of God for deeper truth about our new status, even as we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. The imprint of the old identity is still within us, but it is up to each one of us, to decide which identity will guide our discourse and character towards non-citizens, the old or the new? Dual citizenship is not an option.
In this ongoing debate, may the Holy Spirit make it crystal clear to those of us who have embraced this new identity in Christ, that we are now, citizens of heaven, called to love and serve in Jesus’ Holy name.