Philippians 3:20-21 Amplified Bible
20 But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious resurrected body.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
C.S. Lewis observed that if you aim to be successful only on earth, you may never get to heaven even as the things of earth slip away.
But if you aim for the things of heaven, not only will the Lord graciously bring you there; he will also make your life on earth something wonderful.
So if you aim only for earth, you get nothing.
But if you aim for heaven, you get everything—life to the full.
This is Paul’s point too as he rounds out Philippians 3.
We all are citizens of one country or another here on earth.
But believers in Christ have a far more important status as citizens of heaven.
All of our other identities fall in line under our heavenly citizenship.
Paul pointed this out because then, and now, there are all kinds of influences distracting us, drawing us, from giving God’s kingdom first place in our lives.
We are inundated with messages like this every day: live for the moment, go for the gusto, do whatever feels right, no pain no gain and look out for number one.
All this, Paul claims, makes people enemies of the cross.
It all amounts to self-centered living and reflects none of Christ’s selflessness.
Living in the world and moving forward in the world as Christ’s people, then one day we will be made like Jesus, arrayed in all the glory of God’s kingdom!
John 17:13-19 Amplified Bible
The Disciples in the World
13 But now I am coming to You; and I say these things [while I am still] in the world so that they may experience My joy made full and complete and perfect within them [filling their hearts with My delight]. 14 I have given to them Your word [the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world and do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth. 18 Just as You commissioned and sent Me into the world, I also have commissioned and sent them (believers) into the world. 19 For their sake [a]I sanctify Myself [to do Your will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth.
About fifteen years ago, there was a popular Christian apparel company called “Not of This World.”
I used to own a few of their t-shirts and would often spot their NOTW logos on several cars in our church’s parking lots, where the merchandise was found.
The company’s name came from the phrase found in John 18:36, where Jesus says that His kingdom is “not of this world.”
John 18:35-36 Amplified Bible
35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and their chief priests have handed You over to me. What have You done [that is worthy of death]?” 36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world [nor does it have its origin in this world]. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting [hard] to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this world.”
The NOTW logo on my t-shirt was a tiny reminder although I live in this world, I am not of this world as a child of God, so my eyes need to be fixed heavenward.
As a daughter of the King, I am a part of His Kingdom and ultimately, a citizen of heaven.
Although I experience various trials and pain in this life, my eternal hope in Christ means that heaven is my only true home where all suffering will cease.
9 “Pray, then, [a]in this way:
‘Our Father, who is in heaven,
[b]Hallowed be Your name.
10
‘[c]Your kingdom come,
Your [d]will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
It’s vitally important no matter what is going on around me, I try hard to pray to remember where my journey began and will stop here on this earth leads to.
The Apostle Paul reminds the church at Philippi about this eternal perspective:
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV).
As believers, our faith in Jesus Christ, our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life- the paperwork needed for entrance into our awaited home in heaven.
This heavenly citizenship means we are to be set apart from the world as believers.
Does your language, dress, entertainment, reflect your heavenly citizenship?
What area of your life may look more like the world?
If Christ has saved you, He has given you the privilege of knowing Him and anticipating His full fellowship.
The more time we behold our King, the more we become like Him and long to reflect Him to a lost and dying world.
The world needs the hope of Christ, and we are to be carriers of that message that sets the captives free and gives them life eternal in Christ alone.
We are to be eagerly fixated on the return of King Jesus, but all too often, temporal, worldly desires have our gaze.
We cannot allow the temptations of this world and our weak flesh to entangle us in bondage Christ gave His life to set us free from.
We must pray and ask God to strengthen us so that we do not give in to these temptations and worldly desires.
He always provides a way of escape from these temptations, and we must trust He will never lead us astray recalling His ways are so much better than ours!
While living here on earth, we can enjoy a small taste of glory as we become conformed to the image of Christ, by God’s grace and the power of the Spirit.
The Christian life is the process of growing in Christ-likeness- transformed through sanctification.
The path of transformation leads to an eternity of transformation.
Our bodies will be transformed from our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.
As believers, we joyfully submit to Christ’s Lordship in all things in our lives.
In the end, Jesus Christ reconciles all things to their right place; He sets all things right by the authority and might of His power.
When the world gets dark, let’s remember to fix our gaze on our heavenly home that awaits us!
In the name of God, the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit ….
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of eternal life in Christ. Your word says that Jesus is preparing a place for me where I will get to be with You forever. Although I live here on earth, help me to have a heavenly perspective.
As Jonathan Edwards said, “Stamp eternity on my eyeballs.” Please strengthen me so that worldly temptations and distractions do not entangle me or keep me from my kingdom assignment to share the gospel and make disciples.
I trust that when I am tempted, You always provide a way of escape so that I can continue to walk in obedience. When I fail, help me to repent quickly and rest in Your grace. I long to look more like Jesus, continue to sanctify me in Your truth. When the world gets dark, help me to always fix my eyes on my heavenly home.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 