Girlfriends in God - March 16, 2007

March 16, 2007

I am a Citizen of Heaven

Today’s Truth

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control; will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20 NIV)

Friend to Friend

One spring, we had a ten-year-old boy from Russia stay with us and go to school with my son. His mastery of the English language was very limited and we were dependent on hand signals and facial expressions to get by. On one occasion, I was trying to get him to write his parents a letter. I pulled out the stationary, handed him a pen, pointed to a picture of his parents, and said, “Why don’t we write your parents a letter?” He had no idea what I was talking about.

For twenty minutes, I drew pictures and tried to get him to understand. Finally, with tears in his eyes, he looked up at me and said, “What do?”

I just hugged him and put the pen and paper away.

Sometimes, I feel just like our little Russian guest. I don’t understand the cruelty I read in the papers and hear on the news. I am confused at the angry attitudes of drivers with road rage. I don’t understand how an adult could harm a child. In confusion I look to my heavenly Father and say, “What do?”

But then God reminds me that I will never feel at home here on earth, because I am an alien, a foreigner. My true citizenship is in heaven and I’m just a foreign exchange student here for a short while. I am not home yet.

The Bible tells us that we are citizens of heaven. Our lives may be grand here on earth, but there will always be a longing that goes unmet while our feet are on the ground. That is because we were made for heaven! There will come a day when we will be completely at home, at rest, and at peace. Until then, just remember, we are aliens and strangers in this world we temporarily live in.

Let’s Pray

Dear God: Sometimes I so long for heaven. I love my life here on earth and I am so thankful for every day. But I know that my life is but a breath. Thank you that my true citizenship is in heaven with You!

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Now It’s Your Turn

Have you ever had a day when everything was going great, and yet there was an unidentifiable longing in your heart? What do you think that was?

What do you think the Bible means when it calls us an alien in this world?

How is an alien in a foreign country very similar to our time here on earth?

More from the Girlfriends

If you would like to learn more about your true identity – your true citizenship as a child of God, see Experience the Ultimate Makeover: Discovering God’s Transforming Power by Sharon Jaynes.

Girlfriends in God

P.O. Box 725

Matthews, NC 28106

www.girlfriendsingod.com