A friend sent this quote to me this morning, it encouraged me greatly. I wanted to share it with you.
Eph 2:19
What is meant by our being citizens in heaven? It means that we are under heaven's government. Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The proclamations issued from the throne of glory are freely received by us: the decrees of the Great King we cheerfully obey. Then as citizens of the New Jerusalem, we share heaven's honours. The glory which belongs to beautified saints belongs to us, for we are already sons of God, already princes [princesses] of the blood imperial; already we wear the spotless robe of Jesus' righteousness; already we have angels for our servitors, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward. We share the honours of citizenship, for we have come to the general assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven. As citizens, we have common rights to all the property of heaven. Ours are its gates of pearl and walls of chrysolite; ours the azure light of the city that needs no candle nor light of the sun; ours the the river of the water of life, and the twelve manner of fruits which grow on the trees planted on the banks thereof; there is nought in heaven that belongeth not to us. "Things present, or things to come," all are ours. Also as citizens of heaven we enjoy its delights. Do they there rejoice over sinners that repent-prodigals that have returned? So do we. Do they chant the glories of triumphant grace? We do the same. Do they cast their crowns at Jesus' feet? Such honours as we have we cast there too. Are they charmed with His smile? It is not less sweet to us who dwell below. Do they look forward, waiting for His second advent? We also look and long for His appearing. If, then, we are thus citizens of heaven, let our walk and actions be consistent with our high dignity.
~Spurgeon~
I was reminded of the time I was preparing to go to Thailand with my family on a missions trip. Their culture is very different from ours and I wanted to learn the do's and don'ts so I wouldn't offend the people. After all I was going to serve them. There was a spiritual truth the Lord began to show me as I researched the Thai culture so I would be prepared to walk among the Thai's in peace and harmony. Everyday when I study the word of God, seek the leading of the Holy Spirit and daily lay my life down as Jesus did I'm conforming to the culture of heaven. My desire to see my true home was heightened. The longing in my heart to see my King deepened.
Heaven is a place we will see, are we preparing ourselves for that day as I prepared myself for the day I would visit Thailand?
However, as I read this quote from Spurgeon I'm gently reminded that we presently, as believers, live our lives as citizens of heaven. Daily we partake of the richness of the culture and the fruit of the land. I cannot live my life as a citizen of any other country unless I move to that country. I cannot partake of a foreign culture or of the fruit of the land unless I go there. I cannot live a life of a Thai person while I'm living here in the United States. I suppose I could move to a Thai community but, again, to live as a Thai requires me to make a move. In contrast, believer's have the privilege to daily live our lives as citizen's of heaven without making a physical move. We don't have to wait until we are in heaven to live as a heavenly person, nor should we wait. Oh yes, we've made a move, a move only the power of the blood of Jesus Christ could perform, and yet physically we remain occupants of this earth and this tent looking ahead to the glory of a new body and the pure dwelling of heaven.
We don't simply look forward to our life in heaven, as Spurgeon writes, we are partakers of the heavenly life today. The fruits of heaven: repentance of a sinner, the return of a prodigal, the victory of grace, the sweetness of mercy given, the healing power of forgiveness, the strength of the joy of Christ, peace that surpasses understanding, the glorious presence of our King, His voice in our hearts, the cleansing power of His word, the hope of things to come and the security and confidence of a faithful High Priest, our King, our Father, our friend and the covering of the blood of Christ and His robe of righteousness.
Paul writes in 1 Cor 9:10, "Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
our hope...
Col 1:27 To them (His saints) God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
If Christ is our hope, this hope is in us and we can be partakers of this hope, partakers of Christ, are you partaking of the richness of Christ, the King of glory?
The King of heaven dwells within our hearts and He wants to lead us in His ways, to delight within us His culture, the fruit of His land, He has given us comrades in fellowship, support in prayer, He is keeping for us an inheritance never to be spoiled or stolen, He has made peace with us through the blood of Jesus. Seek Him and live as a citizen of heaven to which you have been called.
United with you in blood and spirit,
CC
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