DUAL CITIZENSHIP

Perhaps you like me have heard of countries that accept “dual citizenship.” This means there are countries I could move to, keep my citizenship in the United States and also become an official citizen of one such country. Spiritually there are those I'm afraid who feel they can have that same kind of citizenship as Christians. Perhaps we Christians live and have our being right now on planet Earth and are probably citizens either of the United States of America or another country (for my distant readers), but Paul writes to the Philippians in his letter to them (3:20-21):

But our conversation (citizenship) is
in heaven; from whence also we
look for the Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body,
that it may be fashioned like unto
his glorious body, according to
the working whereby he is able
to subdue all things unto himself.

I may be a citizen of the United States of America for the time being, but God has laid a claim on my life through the death and resurrection of Jesus that ensures my citizenship in a far better place. It's a far country for now, but before any of us can guess, our true citizenship will be realized when we arrive in Heaven.

However, I wonder if we ever stop to think about this dual citizenship we have...now on earth and later in Heaven. I'm afraid there are some Christians who feel their lifestyles here don't matter in light of Heaven, that they can live however they want to live and will then adjust to another lifestyle when they get to Heaven. Our response should always be the words of that old gospel song, “This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through.”

I've been doing some comparisons of this dual citizenship of mine. It isn't exhaustive but very interesting.|

1. Both of my citizenships (earth and Heaven) came as a result of the birth process.
   Physically I automatically became a citizen of the USA having been born to a mom
   and dad who were both already citizens.
   My spiritual citizenship came as a result of accepting Jesus as my Saviour at the ripe
   old age of 10. My name was registered in the book of life on that day just as I was
   registered on a birth certificate at the time of my physical birth.

2. I have a history in my country. Not only was I born here but have been educated here. I didn't have to apply for special permission to get married or to hold a job. My citizenship made that easy.
   I have a history spiritually that guarantees many privileges. My history began with Adam and Eve and has come down through Scripture and history to this day. Upon my death, I will have immediate access to Heaven and God's presence.
   In both cases, there are people who died to assure my citizenship...men who fought and died that we might be free. But only one Man died to insure my citizenship in Heaven and freedom from Satan's clutches.

3. My dual citizenships bear official seals. My birth certificate has a seal on it officially verifying my birth. But I bear another seal that is better than any visa I might need to apply for to travel to another country. The day will come when I will travel to another country, my Heavenly home. The Holy Spirit who dwells in me is the perfect seal on that travel transaction. I don't know yet how I will make that journey, but it is a sure coming event and my Heavenly Father has all of those travel plans made.

So with just those bits of info available about my citizenship (and am sure I could go into even more detail), what does it all mean for me now. A few thoughts:

*When people move to another country, they are expected to speak the language and adopt all that country is. However, my main citizenship is not this earth. This is Satan's territory. I don't want to speak his language or adopt his ways. I'm here on a temporary visa spiritually speaking.

*All the events and attitudes of this life should be lived in light of that future home where my eternal life will be spent.

*Meanwhile, I need to be reading daily from the Book that reminds me of my history and heritage in God. I need to obey and follow it's instructions. We shouldn't have to make any drastic adjustments when we get to our permanent country. It should be an easy move and transition if we are living now lives pleasing to the ONE, the great I AM who reigns supreme in our wonderful Heavenly home where our citizenship is already assured. We have that assurance only if we have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior.

Dear Jesus, thank You for dying for me and my friends so that we might walk in spiritual freedom here on this earth and later to breathe Heavenly air with you in our eternal home. I praise You for who You are and for all You've done. Forgive when we act too much like this temporary place. In Your precious name....Amen