Tonight we looked at our identity as citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20, Romans 6:1-5). Despite living in the world, when we become a Christian we are given a new identity as citizens of heaven. Moving house is ranked as the third most stressful experience in life (after bereavement and separation or divorce) and moving to another country is even more stressful, especially when another language is involved. It can take years to integrate into a community, and we too can find it difficult to leave the old behind, even though Paul stresses that this is what happens when we are baptised: ‘when we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!’ (Romans 6:2)
The Israelites did not find it easy after their exodus from Egypt, even though they were leaving a life of slavery behind. Still they grumbled and complained (remembering the past with rose-tinted spectaclues) and put God to the test (see Psalm 78), because we find it very hard to change and adapt. Nonetheless, our old life must go and we must embrace the new reality of life in a ‘grace-sovereign country’, as the Message version translates Romans 6. What we believe affects how we live (see 2 Pet 3:11-12) and, like Abraham, we recognise that we have not reached our final destination yet (see Heb 11:9-10). There is a yearning in our hearts for God to wipe away every tear and bring us to the place He has prepared for us. (John 14:1, Rev 21:3)
Heaven isn’t really a place on earth (despite the Brenda Carlisle song!), but the reality of heaven can be the fuel that sustains us through present suffering (Rom 8:18) and can be the motvation to live as God wishes.Paul says, ‘I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Rom 8:38-39) We have been given a new passport to life in a grace-sovereign country; now it’s up to us to live as citizens of heaven, even while we are still living on earth.