CITIZENS OF HEAVEN ON EARTH

By on Jan 11, 2014 in Devotions

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But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)

What is meant by our being citizens in heaven? Why, first that we are under heaven’s government. Christ the King of heaven reigns in our hearts; the laws of glory are the laws of our consciences.

Our daily prayer is, “Your 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.

We are not without law to Christ. The Spirit of God rules in our mortal bodies, grace reigns through righteousness, and we wear the easy yoke of Jesus. Oh that he would sit as King in our hearts, like Solomon upon his throne of gold.

Yours are we, Jesus, and all that we have; rule without a rival. Let our lives be conformed to the glory of our citizenship. In heaven they are holy, so must we be — so are we if our citizenship is not a mere pretense.

They are happy, so must we be rejoicing in the Lord always. In heaven they are obedient, so must we be, following the faintest directives of the divine will. In heaven they are active, so should we be, both day and night praising and serving God.

In heaven they are peaceful, so should we find a rest in Christ and be at peace even now. In heaven they rejoice to behold the face of Christ, so we should be always meditating upon him, studying his beauties, and desiring to look into the truths which he has taught.

In heaven they are full of love, so we should love one another as brethren. In heaven they have sweet communion with each other, so should we—who though many, are one body—each being members of each other. (( Charles Spurgeon, At the Master’s Feet [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005], January 11.))

Charles Spurgeon

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