For our citizenship
is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Philippians 3:20
While we watch the summer XXX Olympics in London, we see
hundreds of athletes representing their home country from around the
world. Patriotism is strong as each
person dons apparel with their home flags and names. Those who do well are bringing honor to their
homelands. However, those whose conduct
is unsportsmanlike, bring shame to their countries.
As Christians, our citizenship is in heaven. Our actions, too, represent the Kingdom of
God. Am I bringing honor or shame? Sadly, I bring more shame than honor. Thankfully, it’s not my merit, but God’s
grace…Christ’s death on the cross, that has made me righteous before Him and
given me that citizenship in heaven. As
a citizen (just like my U.S. citizenship), I have responsibilities. I belong to God and must live my life for
Him, not for myself. My actions are
watched by others. In all I do, I need
to be like our Olympic athletes who recognize that the world is watching.
“No servant can serve
two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he
will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
mammon.” Luke 16:13
When my husband, born and raised in Canada, become a U.S.
citizen a few years ago, he had to promise to "absolutely and entirely
renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince,
potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which [you] have heretofore been a
subject or citizen."
As a citizen of heaven, I too must serve only one Master…God. I need to “abjure” (avoid, shun, deny) my
allegiance to “myself” (satisfying my own wants). And just as the athletes in
the Olympics work hard to represent their country well, I must also fully
devote my life to representing Christ here on earth, and bring glory to
God.
