“Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel.” – Philippians 1:27
We all have an earthly citizenship. Some even have more than one. Nonetheless, every follower of Jesus is also already a citizen of heaven. Heavenly citizenship isn’t something that lies in our future after we die. It is our present reality in Jesus Christ! If you’re a Christian, you’re a citizen of heaven.
Not only are we citizens of heaven right here and now, our heavenly citizenship is, and must be, our most important citizenship! Our first loyalty must be to Jesus. What unites every believer in Jesus Christ is much bigger and more important than what separates and tries to divide us.
As Christians, we must prioritize living well as citizens of heaven. We must live gospel lives that continually offer and seek forgiveness. We must live gospel lives that pursue the holiness that is already ours in Christ. We must live gospel lives that make peace and offer healing in the sorest and most bitter places of the world. We must live gospel lives that proclaim hope and freedom in Christ. We must live gospel lives that breathe life into dead things.
We must live gospel lives that strive for, work for, pray for, sweat for, and bleed for unity with other Christians. We must come together as citizens of heaven across all national, ethnic, racial, social, economic, and gender divisions. We must battle together (not against one another) for the truth, the faith, the unity, and the witness of the miraculous reconciling power of faith in Jesus Christ, Who died to reconcile us to God and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.