Citizenship

The other evening, prompted by our women's Bible study at church, I had quite the brainstorm. We read Philippians 3:20-4:1, but I got stuck in the first verse: "But our citizenship is in heaven [...]."

What, exactly, does citizenship in heaven MEAN? I wondered. Well, what does being an American citizen mean? But wait, I'm not IN heaven, so it's more like, what does being an American citizen overseas feel like?

And I present you with my two conclusions:

1) When I'm in another country, I try to fit the culture (basic rule of traveling!). But at the points where I just can't seem to figure out what's going on or even how to act in a very foreign situation, I realize that my confusion (and sometimes dislike!) come from the fact that I am a citizen of another country...and I'm conditioned to act in ways appropriate to my (in this case American) culture.

Likewise and more importantly, I'm a citizen of heaven, of God's country (as C.S. Lewis might say). Hence, while I'm here on earth, whether in America or another country, there are areas where I will "fit in"(ie, be comfortable), but ultimately, I will be and should be revolted by some of the situations on earth because my 'culture' (where my TRUE citizenship is) is God's country...and things like mass murder, lies, and nasty drivers don't exist there.

2) Again, when I'm in a different country, I can't always buys things that I would normally find in America. For example, when I'm in Europe, peanut butter is missing from my life. And when I'm in America, I can't find fresh mango juice like I can in Uganda. Certain items can only be found in certain countries--that's why those are special items.

Likewise, while I'm here on earth, anything that I could normally receive in God's country, I might not be able to find here. So, for instance, in heaven there are streets of gold...and here on earth there are not. In heaven, there are no more tears...but here on earth, there are. In heaven, there is a lack of hardship...but here on earth, I will have hardships. In heaven, there is no loneliness...but on earth, I will be lonely at times.

Perfect peace, perfect companionship, a perfect life--these things can only be found in my real home, where I'm a citizen. And until I get there, I just have to keep plugging along, making do in my current location but never forgetting that "[my] citizenship is in heaven, and from it [I] await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform [my] lowly body to be like his glorious body."