In yesterday's message we were reminded that our first and foremost citizenship is in Heaven. That reminder was good because sometimes it's easy to forget where our allegiance ought to be. The Bible in 2 Corinthians states that we are ambassadors of heaven in this foreign country and Hebrews tells us that we're strangers here while we pass through. Yet with all that the Scriptures say about this world, my love, and being a good solider in it I do forget and live like this is my first and final country.
Yet while I'm here I do my part as a good citizen of where I'm living. I obey the laws because I don't want to disgrace my true country by my arrest. In addition it reflects how I submit to the laws, rules, and chain of command of the country of which I am a citizen.
I speak well of the authorities of the country in which I live even though they are not as good as the leadership of my country. I my not agree with the policies of the country in which I live and I will try to explain why the way my country does that thing is better but I don't disrespect or dishonor my country by running down the leaders of the country were I'm residing.
But most of all I never forget that someday I'll come home. Somehow, no matter how much I settle in where I'm at I never get over the longing of home. My place in heaven is not something that will take place in the future after I run out of all the enjoyments of earth but a living desire right now in my life. So as a good citizen of heaven I do my part as a good citizen on earth.