If you are a TRUE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, YOU DO NOT BELONG TO THIS WORLD, BUT YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN. (John 17:14-16; Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 2:12; Hebrews 11:13)
BECAUSE YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN, YOU ENJOY MANY BENEFITS EVEN WHILE ON EARTH.
- You have a home in heaven. (John 14:1-3)
- You have treasures in heaven. (1 Peter 1-3:4)
- You have rewards waiting for you in heaven. (Matthew 5:10-12)
- You have protection from heaven (1 Peter 1:5; 2 Kings 6:14-17)
- You have provision from heaven for your earthly needs. (Matthew 6:31-33)
- You have assurance of heaven’s victory over hell’s forces working on earth. (Revelation 11:15-18)
YOU ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES ON EARTH BECAUSE YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN
- You are called to represent your King well on the earth. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
- You are called to live out your culture so others may see it and be drawn to the King you serve. (Matthew 5:16)
- You are called to live properly so as not to bring shame to the King you represent. (Romans 13:11-13, Romans 2:21-24)
- You are called to spread the culture of your heavenly country to the local (earthly) people you are living with. (Acts 26:30-31; Acts 1:3; John 20-21)
- You are called to go out on earth and make other places like heaven where you belong. (Matthew 6:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 2:11)
IMPLICATIONS OF BEING NOT OF THIS WORLD BECAUSE YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN
- It is normal that you are not overly delighted with the good things of earth. (Philippians 3:4-7)
- It is normal that you are not too shaken with the bad developments of earth. (Philippians 1:12-13, 19)
- You see promotion and demotion as ultimately coming from the King of heaven and not from earthly rulers of earth. (Daniel 4:36-37; Psalm 75:6-7)
- You see permission or authority for earthly events to take place or not as ultimately belonging to the King of heaven and not to human leaders. (John 19:11)
- You fight primarily only for things that affect your heavenly citizenship and for heavenly causes on earth. (John 18:36)
- You see your salvation from suffering and evil as coming from the King of kings and not from earthly rulers and their programs. (Philippians 3:20)
- You endure the in-between season (now and the time when the kingdom of heaven takes over the whole earth) with grace and faithfulness to the heavenly King. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
- You focus your mind and invest your life and resources on heavenly things. (Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 6:19-21)