…their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven…
As I have taken these two half sentences away from their full context, you might wonder who the “they” is who has a mindset on earthly things. You may not, and think, as I often have, “sounds a lot like me.” For if we are honest with ourselves and God, we must agree that we have — sometimes for a moment, sometimes for years of our lives — been more about the things of the world than the things of Heaven.
The news gets worse, maybe. Paul writes, “For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame.” And we may say, “Hold on. That is definitely not me.” However much we do not want to accept that we have become enemies, we cannot deny that there have been times, and may be times in the future, where we sacrificed to the belly god (that isn’t just about food) or taken pride in actions we should have been ashamed of.
It is that word, enemies, that just seems so harsh. But this is why we must take a serious inventory of our conscience, not once, but throughout our lives. Unless we do, the good news is for someone else.
And here is the good news: “our citizenship is in heaven.” This is great news not just because of the wonderful thought we will be with God after death, or freed from the bonds of sin, both no less than amazing. We, believers in Christ Jesus, citizens right this very minute, and we can choose that citizenship, not just in the way we act, but the very way we breathe and see ourselves. We are part of a holy country with no borders, and the love of our King is unbounded.
Sovereign King of Love, may we always remember not only our place in your kingdom, but our place in your heart. Today and tomorrow, be our light, and help us to live our citizenship. In the holy name of Jesus, Amen.
