ARE YOU ENJOYING THE PRIVILEGES OF YOUR HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP?

Over 46 years ago I flew into Singapore for the very first time, I did not know just how much this Island State (and the region) was to become such a part of our lives for the next 30+ years, including living there once for 2 years as the Principal of a Bible College, and later a further three months oversighting a local church. We had decided around the time of the start of the pandemic to visit Singapore one last time, to catch up with our many friends, that live there.

Well, hopefully sometime (early) in 2022 this dream can come to fulfilment.

The last time I got my passport renewed I decided just to ask for a 5 year passport, thinking that should see my travelling days out, so I am going to have to re-apply for another passport. As I began to think about this I thought about the fact that I am a citizen of Australia, and my passport is authorised by the Governor General of Australia. To be able to carry a passport is the privilege of citizenship.

I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV 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.

AMP.N.T. But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also weearnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,
Who willtransform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.

PASSION But we are a colony of heaven on earth as we cling tightly to our life-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humble bodies and transfigure us into the identical likeness of his glorified body. And using his matchless power, he continually subdues everything to himself.

N.L.T. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

MESSAGE But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

I really do count it a privilege to be a citizen of Australia, but MUCH MORE, I am privileged to be A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN, and my passport is signed by God the Father, because Jesus shed His precious blood on the Cross, and the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin, and gave me the desire and ability to repent, and I was born again, at that moment my name was permanently written in “The Lamb’s Book of Life” and I received the Gift of Eternal Life and was handed a permanent passport, there is a sense that I enter heaven every day, because my eternal passport gives me permanent ACCESS INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD. Eph. 3:12 NKJV in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Heb.4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need

PASSION So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.

MESSAGE So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

Eph.2:19 NKJV tells us Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God I AM A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN.

So, fellow citizens of heaven, let us enjoy and fully appreciate all the privileges and rights our heavenly citizenship gives us, AMEN