Men and women today take great pride in their national origin. Immigration status can create or undo a man's peace in any land.
For the believer, we are called to rest and remember that our citizenship is in heaven, not here on earth. " Conservation" here renders to Greek word πολίτευμα politeuma, or "citizenship."
We are children of the living God, made heirs of God through Christ:
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 17)
and
"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" (Ephesians 3: 6)
Earlier in his Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul writes that we have been adopted:
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Ephesians 1: 5)
If that were not enough, Paul later writes:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
We are seated above the heavens, in Christ -- that is your new citizenship, that is your new home, and on earth we are called to live out this heaven life which Christ has given us through His Holy Spirit:
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
Rest and Remember where you live now -- you are a child of the King and you live in His Kingdom!
No comments:
Post a Comment