Is Your Strongest Allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven?

Posted on Aug 03, 2017 Topic : Prophecy
Posted by : Jeff Kinley

Every July 4, our country is repainted red, white, and blue for a day. We pause from our busy schedules to celebrate with flame-grilled burgers, family gatherings, and fireworks.

Yes, I am both grateful and proud to be an American.

However, as wonderful and inspiring as this is, being a citizen of this country is not my highest privilege or my primary identity. Being a child of God is. One is earthly, the other heavenly. One temporal, the other eternal. And because of this, my greatest and highest loyalty lies with another kingdom, a kingdom whose coming Jesus asked us to pray for.

It has become apparent to me that we in the American church have lost a fundamental perspective. It’s a flaw in our collective faith that must be corrected. Our problem is that we think and act like we actually belong here. Like this earth is our home. Yes, we currently live here, but according to the Bible, we as Christians also enjoy a unique dual citizenship. As Paul reminded the Philippian believers, “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (3:20).

This truth is more than just a comforting thought or a trendy Christian meme. It’s a theological reality concerning our ultimate destiny. It’s a citizenship that comes with inherent privileges and responsibilities. It means that heaven, not this world, is where our primary allegiance lies.

It means we don’t belong here. It means we long to go home.

Though we are often mired in the mud of earthly necessities, Paul urges us to order our priorities. It’s not that things down here are unimportant. It’s just that they are not of the utmost importance. This means there is something more essential and satisfying than making money. Something more beneficial than getting an education or landing that dream job. Something even more worthwhile then a well-deserved vacation, a good family, or a great marriage.

Though all of the above are good things and gifts from God, and though they all have their merit and place here on earth, nothing compares to that which is heavenly. We belong to Him. His presence is our pursuit and His kingdom our cause. Jesus Christ came to die for us, and what motivated Him to endure the cross and suffer death was a joy awaiting Him in heaven. That heavenly joy was bringing glory to the Father, and bringing salvation to those who would believe.

This eternal perspective to which we are called and commanded supersedes and overrules all temporary priorities. It trumps earthly pursuits and outranks human obligations. It means we see ourselves as what we actually are—first and foremost, disciples. Children. Followers. Worshippers. Servants of the Most High God. “Aliens and strangers” in a foreign land. This is our identity. Our blood-bought eternal reality. It is only when we view ourselves in this manner that we can truly appreciate, pursue, and properly steward the privilege of being Christians in a country like America.