Citizens of Heaven

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Picture yourself on a 3 month, all expenses paid European holiday. For 3 months you’ll live in hotels, visit various countries, eat all manner of different and delightful food, and see wonders, both natural and man-made. The one catch for this holiday is that you cannot take anything home with you. Nothing, not even a piece of clothing or tiny souvenir of any kind. You can, however, send things home to be waiting for you. In fact, anything you purchase must either be destroyed on the day you bought it, or sent home. Who amongst us would buy souvenirs and try to keep them for a few hours in the various hotels that we are staying in? Who would buy clothing, only for it to be destroyed at days end?

The bible tells us that our citizenship is in heaven (Php 3:20), and despite all that currently surrounds us, to be a part of the kingdom is of inestimable value. How does the kingdom shape the way we view our daily life?

If we chase purpose and meaning in the daily grind of our world, we will find moments of satisfaction, times of joy and gladness, and experience good times. But these will be fleeting and ultimate satisfaction will be difficult to grasp.

The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that trying to make sense of, and enjoy, life without God’s good purposes is like trying to grasp the wind. I’m not sure if you’ve ever tried it, but it’s really hard, to the point of impossibility!! What we think we have grasped is elusive, and not there when we open our hand to take a look. How comforting then are Jesus’ words to the church in Laodicea? To a church that has somewhat lost their way, he encourages them to seek the heavenly treasure that never fades, and to answer the door of their heart to his persistent voice. (Rev 3:14-22). As readers we are struck by the cares of this world, the way they clamour for our attention, and the true joy that comes from knowing there is so much more to life than this. Jesus speaks to the Laodiceans and tells them he will eat with anyone who hears his voice—a genuine picture of friendship and fellowship, and he longs for us to join his eternal banquet.

What do we think we can ‘take home’ to heaven with us? What can we do in the present that sees hearts won for the eternal riches of Christ’s kingdom?

In Christ’s Love, Craig Olliffe, Senior minister