Citizens of Heaven
By Hannah, WI
Freedom of Speech. Right to a trial by jury. Freedom of religion. Freedom of the press. The right to vote. Maybe you’ve heard of these? They are all parts of the Bill of Rights. As such, I and all other US citizens receive the benefits of these rights. I know that I’m not going to be hunted down for criticizing the government. I know that I’m not going to be thrown into prison for the rest of my life without a trial. I know that when I’m eighteen, no one will be able to stop me from voting. Why am I sure of these things? Well, because I am a citizen of the United States and therefore have certain rights and freedoms. Because I am a US citizen, the government protects me.
However, I’m not just a citizen of the United States, I am—more importantly—a citizen of heaven.
- Philippians 3:20: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we know that our home is not of this earth, our citizenship belongs first and foremost to God in heaven. And just as citizens of the US are given rights through the government, we are given blessings through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
Though we are all convicted as guilty and deserve the penalty of death, we have eternal amnesty. Our sins of the past and future are forgotten, hidden with Jesus’ blood. We have an army of angels at our back, commanded by the omnipotent God to guard us from every danger. The intelligence of the omniscient God makes every decision in our lives for our good. And finally, on the Last Day, God the Father will be judge and jury. I’m confident of the outcome on that day. Why?
Because I’m a citizen of heaven. Thanks be to God!