Because I believe Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am a citizen of heaven.  Our passport to heaven is stamped citizen the minute we accept Jesus as our Savior.  In Philippians 3:19-20 Paul describes our position in contrast to those who do not believe. “They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.”   Also in Ephesians 2:19 Paul encourages the Gentile believers that they now belong to the family of God-all believers. “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.”

Why is citizenship in heaven so important?  Just like in our age, with citizenship comes privileges of belonging to a nation.  We belong to Jesus (Romans 1:5-6), have a future home there prepared by Jesus (John 14:1-3),  we will dwell with Him (John 14:23), our reward waits for us there (Matthew 5:12), our treasures are there (Matthew 6:19),  our home with Him is eternally strong and secure (2 Corinthians 5:1), our inheritance is kept there secure and unfaded by time (1 Peter 1:4) and we have every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).  All these privileges are ours  because we know Christ and are citizens of heaven.  Through our faith in Jesus, we live in this world but our real home and allegiance is in heaven to our heavenly Father.  Jesus warned us that we would struggle with the world and sin but that He has overcome the world.  Victory is ours through Christ.  1 John 5:4-5 “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Privileged to be a citizen of heaven,

Linda