Philippians 3:19,20 “Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.”
In 1 Peter, the apostle addresses his recipients as ‘God’s elect, strangers in the world’ (1:1). Are we living as strangers in the world, with our true citizenship in heaven, or are we making ourselves a little too comfortable here?
The second-century Letter to Diognetus described the Christians’ lifestyle in the following way:
“They live in their own countries, but only as aliens. They have a share in everything as citizens, and endure everything as foreigners. Every foreign land is their fatherland, and yet for them every fatherland is a foreign land … It is true that they are ‘in the flesh’, but they do not live ‘according to the flesh’. They busy themselves on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws, but in their own lives they go far beyond what the laws require. They love all [people], and by all [people] are persecuted. They are unknown, and still they are condemned; they are put to death, and yet they are brought to life. They are poor, and yet they make many rich; they are completely destitute, and yet they enjoy complete abundance. They are dishonoured, and in their very dishonour are glorified; they are defamed, and are vindicated. They are reviled, and yet they bless; when they are affronted, they still pay due respect … Christians dwell in the world, but are not of the world.”
What a challenging testimony to their authentic faith! That is why within the first three centuries the pagan Roman Empire was completely transformed, such that when Emperor Constantine declared it Christian, it was out of political expediency – the battle for the Empire had been won by numerous communities of believers living costly lives of surrender to the King of Kings!
It’s happened before. It can happen again.
Lord God, help me recapture the right understanding of living as a stranger on earth with my citizenship in heaven. Amen!
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