Citizens of Heaven
We expect Ambassadors of the United States to represent our country honorably. Their position requires that they conduct their lives in a way that reflects well on America.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we too are Ambassadors. Jesus Christ is the one we represent and we are to live in a way that exalts Him. However, not only are we Ambassadors for Christ, we are citizens of heaven. The truth is that we are merely visitors on this earth, representing Jesus Christ, our Lord, while we are here.
People form opinions of believers based on what we say and do. Although people of this world can’t peek into heaven and see how believers live in the presence of God, they do see us, citizens of heaven, living among them.
People of earth should look at us and see an accurate reflection of the God we serve, and of the country we represent. Therefore, we are to conduct ourselves as citizens of heaven and live in a manner worthy of the gospel. As citizens of heaven and Ambassadors of Christ, our main objective is to present the truth of the gospel, and our lives are to support the message we proclaim. The gospel, after all, is the focal point of our lives.
Paul expressed his concern: “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). His concern was that we live in a way that reflects the dignity of the office we hold.
With the same concept in mind, Paul told the Colossian believers he was praying for their spiritual wisdom and understanding: “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might” (Colossians 1:10, 11).
We are to be walking in a manner worthy of the Lord, worthy of the gospel, and worthy of our calling. As children of God, His character should be seen in everything we do and those who look at us should expect to see something different. This does not mean we walk around with pious expressions on our faces and a “goody-goody” attitude. But, since we are children of God, we are to have a different character.
As you look at your own life over the past week, has it been worthy of the Lord? Has your conduct and conversation demonstrated that you are a child of God, one who represents Jesus Christ? We must not be like the world, not because we are putting on airs, but because our very nature is different and our citizenship is in heaven.