WEDNESDAY January 19, 2022
Heavenly Citizenship
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Philippians 3:20-21
Our citizenship is in heaven! The Old King James version uses the word conversation, meaning “manner of life.” These two words citizenship and conversation mean the same thing––the way we are to live our lives as citizens of heaven. Paul was letting us know that we are not of this world, our citizenship is in heaven. As Christians we are sojourning––just visiting this earth for a little while. We have a heavenly passport!
The word transform is the Greek word metaschematizo which means “to change in fashion or appearance” or simply “transform.” When the Rapture of the Church happens, and we are taken from the earth, at that very moment in time, our earthly bodies are going to be transformed––changed (1 Corinthians 15:52-54).
Consider the earthly caterpillar. While in its cocoon it begins to change and transform into a beautiful butterfly. This gives the context for the word metaschematizo. This same context is used for when our earthly bodies are transformed into incorruptible, heavenly bodies. In the aging process, our hair whitens and our skin wrinkles, yet there is a departure day coming when we will be with Christ forever.
I want to make sure my bags are packed and I am ready to be with Jesus any day. Are you eagerly waiting for Jesus Christ’s return?
The only way the kingdom of God is going to be manifest in this world before Christ comes is if we manifest it by the way we live as citizens of heaven and subjects of the King.
~R.C. Sproul~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
