“Fellow citizens with the saints.” — Ephesians 2:19
What is meant by our being citizens in heaven? It means that we are under heaven’s government. Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The proclamations issued from the throne of glory are freely received by us: the decrees of the Great King we cheerfully obey. Then as citizens of the New Jerusalem, we share heaven’s honours. The glory which belongs to beatified saints belongs to us, for we are already sons of God, already princes of the blood imperial; already we wear the spotless robe of Jesu’s righteousness; already we have angels for our servitors, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward. We share the…
honours of citizenship, for wehave come to the general assembly and Church of the first-born whosenames are written in heaven. As citizens, we have common rights to all theproperty of heaven. Ours are its gates of pearl and walls of chrysolite; oursthe azure light of the city that needs no candle nor light of the sun; ours theriver of the water of life, and the twelve manner of fruits which grow onthe trees planted on the banks thereof; there is nought in heaven thatbelongeth not to us. “Things present, or things to come,” all are ours. Alsoas citizens of heaven we enjoy its delights. Do they there rejoice oversinners that repent — prodigals that have returned? So do we. Do theychant the glories of triumphant grace? We do the same. Do they cast theircrowns at Jesu’s feet? Such honours as we have we cast there too. Arethey charmed with His smile? It is not less sweet to us who dwell below.Do they look forward, waiting for His second advent? We also look andlong for His appearing. If, then, we are thus citizens of heaven, let our walkand actions be consistent with our high dignity.
To make sure you never miss an episode, please subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.
Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen