Heavenly Citizens

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

In the United States, we blow it out for our nation’s birthday on the Fourth of July. Fireworks. Hot dogs. Fireworks. Cookouts. Fireworks. Picnics. Did I mention fireworks? We celebrate the day our founding fathers put their John Hancock on the Declaration of Independence back in 1776. But sixteen centuries before the American colonies revolted against King George of England, Paul gives us a heavenly civics lesson. He reminds us that patriotism is great but there’s one allegiance that takes priority for every follower of Jesus. “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (v20). As heavenly citizens, we anticipate Jesus’ jaw-dropping encore. While we wait, we devote ourselves to shining His light and spreading His salt until He swings back by. 

It’s a mistake to think Paul takes his Roman citizenship lightly. As a matter of fact, it came in VERY handy when a lynch mob tossed him and Silas into the joint during their trip to Philippi (Acts 16:37). The fact that he’s behind bars in the capital of Rome is evidence of his citizenship. The apostle leveraged his rights as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to Caesar (Acts 25:11). And citizenship is a really big deal to the Philippians. The city may be in first century Macedonia (what we know as modern day Greece), but it’s an important Roman colony. Historians describe this seaport as Rome’s Macedonian Mini-Me. You see, Roman citizenship was something very special. Unlike America, Roman citizenship is a privileged political and legal status to free individuals. Just because you are born and raised in the empire doesn’t mean you’re a citizen. 

Paul tells us that as followers of Jesus “our citizenship is in heaven” (v20). He contrasts the I-want-it-and-I-want-it-now of the “enemies of the cross” (Phil 1:18-19) with the eager waiting of heavenly citizens. If God’s opponents are known for their demand for instant gratification of the god of their gut, heavenly citizens wait patiently and expectantly. The apostle talks about our greater “citizenship” (v20), which is the Greek word politeuma. It actually describes a civic entity, a location in which one has the rights of a citizen, a commonwealth, state, government, and even a homeland. We’ve all known somebody who grew up somewhere else and all they ever talk about is “back home”? For all I know that might be you! That’s kind of the idea. Right here and right now may be nice, but it’s not home. It’s not where you’re supposed to be.

The Bible is all about strangers in a strange land. God calls his boy Abraham to pack his bags and head to the “land I will show you” (Gen 12:1). Joseph gets sold out by his big brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt (Gen 37:26-28). Moses is on the lamb for murder and hides out (Ex 2:15). He even named his boy Gershom, which literally means “stranger in a strange land” (Ex 2:22). God rescues His people from 400-plus years of slavery in Egypt to take them home to the Promised Land (Ex 12:40-42). The list goes on and on. Daniel. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Ezra. Nehemiah. Ruth. Noah. And is there any greater story of an alien living in a foreign land than the Son of God’s rescue mission to save you and me? He left the luxury of the heavenly palace and dive into this sinful dumpster we call earth. It’s hard to wrap our heads around what He gave up to save our bacon. As followers of Jesus, we’re His body. That means until Christ comes back, we’re His eyes, heart, hands and feet to our friends and neighbors. Do you ever get the feeling there’s something more? Do you ever have a restless sense you’ve got somewhere else to be? That’s actually a good thing. Just like Jesus, you’re a stranger in a strange land. Just like Jesus, “our citizenship is in heaven” (v20).

So what does than mean? How do we live if we’re just passing through? MacArthur says we’re actually a colony of foreigners. Picture ourselves as pioneers and settlers sent to bring an amazing message of a better land to come. We’re setting up outposts of God’s kingdom. Until that happens, we should be a blessing to those around us. A great example are God’s orders to His people living in exile in Babylon. Build houses. Plant gardens. Get married. Have kids. Build great families. “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jer 29:7). Are your neighbors glad you live next door? Is your boss excited when you come to work? Are you a firehose of God’s grace to everyone around you? Earlier in Philippians, Paul encourages them to “let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ” (Phil 1:27). This could easily be translated as “be good citizens worthy of Christ’s Gospel by being good citizens.” Is your home a safe place for hurting people or a bomb shelter for you to hide out until Jesus comes back? Heaven may be our home but we need to be a blessing to those around us right here and right now. 

As heavenly citizens, Paul says “we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (v20). He uses an extra special, super duper word here. It’s the Greek verb apekdechomai. The apostle isn’t painting a picture of of us passively tapping our toes and twiddling our thumbs as we wait for Christ to come to our rescue. Instead of killing time, we’re to be anxiously expecting Him. Eagerly waiting for Him. Looking patiently forward to His return. Remaining in a state of readiness until that awesome day. According to Robertson, this vividly pictures Paul’s eagerness for the second coming of Christ as the normal attitude of the Christian colonist whose is heaven. Just in case you weren’t aware, Jesus IS coming back! One look around should tell you this isn’t how things ought to be. Our Savior has one final encore that’s going to seriously rock the joint. He’s coming back once and for all to set everything straight. Yeah, He’s going to rescue His followers but there’s so much more on His divine to-do list. Redeem His creation that we jacked up. Defeat Satan and his demonic toadies. Punish evil. Reward righteousness. I don’t know about you, but that’s certainly worth waiting for. 

So in the meantime, we wait. Expectantly. Eagerly. Patiently. Faithfully. As heavenly citizens, we should be a blessing to those around us. Are folks excited about seeing you walk through the door? Or do they roll their eyes and dread your arrival? I’m not saying there aren’t times to stand up for God’s holy standard. But we need to remember we don’t have the market cornered on righteousness. We’re simply humble beggars who’ve been told where to find the Bread. We wait for His return by shining His light. We wait by spreading His salt. We wait by being good neighbors, good workers, good friends, and good citizens.