Citizenship in Faith

Citizen or citizenship is referred to as the status of a person as a resident of a country, as defined by the dictionary. We can learn that when a person is deemed a citizen of a country, they oblige to the rules, way of living, and practices besides the norm of that particular country where they reside. For example, a man who is a citizen of America leads his life the way every American would, with a few alters according to his beliefs and preferences, but not very far from the norm.

In the same context, a citizen in this world would depict the idea of a person fully submitted to all the activities that happen under heaven, in this world. That could include lifestyle, beliefs, career, practices, and many others. A citizen of this world is not far from the world itself. Everything they perceive to do would be exactly what the rest of the world is doing. In certain exceptions, some live a life-bearing in mind that their citizenship is not of this world though that means everyday hustle.

Relating to the Scripture, Philippians 3:20 clearly says that “we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Saviour”. What did Apostle Paul mean when he wrote this letter to the believers in Philippi? He meant that all those that happen under heaven, all activities of a common citizen of the world is in vain, as we do not belong to the earth. We, who are children of God, the ones called out for His glory, do not belong to the world as our citizenship is in heaven. The Lord is in heaven; “where Lord Jesus Christ lives”. Surely the children of God would also be in heaven, with their Father, where our citizenship is.

The scripture then says that “we are eagerly waiting for him to return”, which can clearly be understood that he is the one to come. He would come to bring us to our world, the world he has prepared for us. This world we are at is only given to us on loan for there is another world, one of our citizenship awaiting. The King of that world will come to bring us with him where we would live forever in His glory.