And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Matthew 8:20
Jesus doesn’t mince words. The Christ following life does not mean a life of ease, nor is it one we should glamourize. He is asking us to step into a life lived in faith; a life lived in surrender of the worldly things we find comfortable.
He may call us into “houselessness” here on earth but what he promises us is even greater. He promises us citizenship in heaven.
So, what does it mean to be a citizen? It means that we have both RESPONSIBILITIES and RIGHTS.
Our responsibilities on this earth can be summed up pretty easily:
“Represent me well.” – God
As a follower of Jesus, we are called to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). An ambassador is a person who acts as a representative or a promoter of someone or something. We have been entrusted to carry God’s name and His saving grace. We are His official representatives. Are you carrying yourself in that way? Are you allowing God’s calling on your life to be an ambassador for Him to permeate your entire being? Is it informing the way you work and live? Does what you are doing represent the kind of heavenly citizenship that you want to invite others into?
When I started asking myself these questions, I saw that in a lot of ways I was representing Christ well but there were also parts of my life that didn’t have Him in the center. I was reawakened to the call:
So whether you eat of drink, or whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
It challenged me to begin conducting myself in a way that was above reproach because people (especially non-believers) are watching and judging God based on my actions.
As I looked into the idea farther, I started realizing that stewarding my citizenship and, therefore, my responsibilities well meant accepting that I am holy, or set apart. That although I was once in darkness, God called me out of it and into His marvelous light so I should carry myself in His light as His representative (1 Peter 2:9-12).
Accepting that you are a citizen of heaven will help you begin to grasp the FULL identity that God has for you. Part of that identity means understanding and exercising your rights of citizenship.
The first right we are given as members of the household of God is access;
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2:17-18
The beginning of these verses says that Jesus came to the far off and near. So, both those who are far from God and those who are near can have access to the Father. Whether you currently feel far from Him or close to Him, you have access to Him. He has made Himself accessible to you. YOU HAVE THE EAR OF THE KING. He wants you to call out to Him because He wants to answer you, and be there for you (Psalm 91:15). You have so much access to the Father that you can actually stir His heart with your prayer, your worship, and your admiration.
And not only does your citizenship mean that you have access to the King, it means that your second right is that you can boldly approach His throne.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
When I first read this verse, I thought about the story of Esther. As soon as she agreed to rescue the Jews, she had to begin preparing to approach the king, her husband. She fasted, she got ready a banquet, she put on her royal robes. Only then did she dare approach the king, wondering whether or not she would find favor in his eyes. He extended his golden scepter to her, but it still took another day of preparation and feasting before she could bring her request to him.
But that is not the kind of king that God is. His golden scepter is always extended towards us.
As it says in James, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded (4:8).” There is a reason for the order that it is presented. God always wants us to come closer to Him. God wants us to come to Him in our filth; He doesn’t want us to clean ourselves up first. He wants our mess, our discomfort. Only once we have showed up dirty, can He begin the sanctification process with us. And He isn’t judging us for our weakness, He is sympathizing with us because He knows our struggle more than anyone (Hebrews 4:15).
We need only to approach His throne and to let Him sanctify us. His grace and mercy is abounding but to get the fullness of this blessing it starts with a bold approach. And sometimes, a bold approach looks like humility and repentance.
Being a citizen of heaven means that we have access to the Father, and because of that it means that we can boldly approach His throne as we are. This is our right. But it doesn’t stop there. Our citizenship is also our authority.
In Acts 22, we see Paul tied up and about to be flogged for sharing about Jesus but then he called upon his identity as a Roman citizen. Immediately, the examiners withdrew and it caused the tribune fear. You see, saying, “I am a Roman citizen,” was saying, “I have the full force of the Roman empire behind me, and it is the strongest empire in the world.”
This is the same authority we get to speak with. That is incredibly powerful. The next time it feels like the enemy is attacking or you start facing lies about your identity, answer with, “I am a citizen of heaven. I have the full power of God backing me up and you have NO rights (Luke 10:19).”
Allow the reality of the authority that you carry to penetrate your soul. Can you accept your identity as a citizen of heaven?
Now is the time to take a step toward the throne. The Lord wants you to take that ground (Deuteronomy 11:24). Now is the time to speak out with authority. Trust that the Lord will give you the rest.
Now is the time to walk in Christ’s victory.
Don’t let a difficult or uncomfortable season squeeze the God out of your life. God is using you. Instead, let it be a time to choose to draw nearer to Him as he pulls you closer to Himself.
“I’m never in a hard place because God is helpless against its cause. I am in a hard place for my good and his glory.” Ask God for new perspective and new revelation. Remember how faithful He has been in your life and look to see where He is being faithful now (2 Timothy 2:13).
The rights we hold as citizens of heaven far surpass anything we could gain on earth because there is a promise, a guarantee. For this time, we face discomfort and even affliction because we are away from our home and away from our heavenly Father (2 Corinthians 4:17). However, this is all in preparation for the day He calls us home, where, after suffering with Him on earth, we will be glorified with Him in heaven (Romans 8:17). It is there where we will receive our beautiful inheritance as an eternal reward (Psalm 16:6, Colossians 3:24). So, let us not set our eyes on the comforts of this transient time, but fix our eyes upon the beauty of the eternity before us.
You are a nomad, a pioneer created for the extraordinary but it takes action. It takes surrendering earthly comforts of “home,” claiming your identity as a citizen of heaven, approaching the Father as you are, and walking in your God-given authority. You’ve got this, and God’s got you.
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 5:4-5
*Thank you so much for following my journey. I am so grateful for your support! If you want to hear more of what God has got going on with World Race America, subscribe to my blog for updates and check out the blogs from my teammates!
