The Christian
A Citizen of Heaven

(The Pastor's Letter April 1970)

My Dear Friends,

In these days when nationalistic feelings seem to be running so high – be it Northern Ireland, or South Africa, or where-have-you it surely becomes the Christian to remember that, first and foremost, his "citizenship is in heaven." (Philippians chapter 3 verse 20) One of the features of each and every one of us who profess the Name of Jesus in these days seems to be the absence of any real conception of the glories of heaven and how our lives should be governed by the realisation that "here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come."

The apostle Paul drew a vivid picture for the Philippian believers when he reminded them of this very fact from their own situation. He has been saying some very hard things about those who were "the enemies of the cross of Christ," and has been contrasting them with the faithful apostles whom he has been exhorting the church at Philippi to emulate. And one of the features of these "enemies of the cross" is that "they mind earthly things." They are all taken up with the things of this life and they have no eye whatsoever for spiritual and heavenly business. But, says Paul in that twentieth verse that we quoted above, "Our citizenship (our conversation) is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."

How this must have struck a familiar note in the hearts and minds of these believers who were also inhabitants of this city of Philippi, for, although situated in the region of Macedonia, Philippi was a "Roman" colony and the Philippian people, in general, gloried in the honour of Roman citizenship and all that it contained in those days of Rome's national grandeur. Although born in Philippi, they were, nevertheless, citizens of Rome. Their names appeared on the imperial register of that city, and they were governed under the laws and legistations of Rome, and enjoyed its privileges. Above all, to many citizens of Philippi, Rome was the place where their lord and saviour dwelt – for so the Emperor of Rome was considered by many – and at a moment's notice he would muster his Imperial forces and dispatch them should any danger threaten the well-being of those under his care.

How vividly, then, must Paul's comparison have shone into the hearts and minds of the Philippian believers. Oh yes, they were citizens of the world, by nature; but, by grace, they had been "born again from above," so that they were now "heavenly" citizens and their "citizenship" was in heaven. Were not their names registered "in glory" - in the Lamb's Book of Life? And was it not heaven's laws and legistations that truly governed and ruled their lives? Was the Emperor, indeed, a saviour to the worldly-minded man or woman in the streets of Philippi? But, was not their Jesus the Saviour of saviours and the King of all the kings of all the world, who would hear the cry of His people before they cried, and would answer from heaven His dwelling place, while they were yet speaking? Heaven was the "capital" city of the Elect of God at Philippi, just as Rome was the capital to the other inhabitants. The church at Philippi was a "heavenly" colony, and what threw the believers into contrast with the unbelievers - the friends of Christ into contrast with "the enemies of the cross of Christ" – in this portion of Paul's letter, was the contrasting attitudes to heaven and earth. On the one hand, there were those who "minded earthly things;" on the other, those whose "citizenship" was "in heaven."

How valid the lesson for us today, as in every day. Is it not true that, in so many ways, we have lost the light of heaven from our eye of faith? The "voice of our beloved" no longer effectively beckons our hearts to "rise up … and come away." We know little of Bunyan's "Mr Weary-of-the-World", for, of a truth, few of us are really and truly weary of the world. Would it not be the case that, if we knew more of our heavenly citizenship, we would less-often resort to the town of Carnal Policy for counsel and more to the enquiry rooms of Glory? Perhaps, it's because we know so little of the Christian warfare and struggle in our day that we have apparently so little desire for "that rest that yet remaineth unto the people of God." Perhaps, even, we don't really have a heart-longing to visit the place of our true nationality – even to see "The King there in His beauty."

Let us learn to pray: "Lord, in Thy mercy, Thou hast caused us to be made citizens of eternity; forbid that we should rest contented under any other flag or rule, but Thine alone."

When Robert Leighton was accused of not "speaking to the time;" that is, not always preaching about what was going on in the country; his reply silenced his accusers: "Gentlemen," he said, "when so many are speaking 'to the times', permit one poor brother to speak for eternity." And why not? We are not "nationals" of any nation on this earth, but nationals and citizens of heaven.

Yours Eternally,
      W.J. Seaton