Do I live my life as a citizen of Heaven?

Jesus is our SAVIOR. The word for Savior in Greek is the word:

σωτήρ (sō-tā'r): which means saviour, deliverer, preserver. It's root is from the Greek word σῴζω (sō'-zō) which means:

1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
a) one (from injury or peril)
1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health
1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue
b) to save in the technical biblical sense
1) negatively
a) to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment
b) to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance

I know that the concept that Jesus is our SAVIOR is nothing new, but I wonder if I really live my life in light of that truth. Do I really understand that Jesus is PRESERVING my life for the next? That He is preserving my life for something better? In Hebrews chapter 9 two verses jumped out at me:

"That is why He is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people. So that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them." (Hebrews 9:15 NLT)

"And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgement, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him." (Hebrews 9:28 NLT)

Jesus has an inheritance that is waiting for me! When He comes back in the end, He won't be coming back to deal with my sin (He has already done that once and for all on the cross) but to present me with His amazing gift of salvation. Over the years I feel as if the church has talked a little less about Heaven and a lot more about the here and now. And while our time/life on this planet is very important (God has a plan and a purpose for us while we are on this planet to share the gospel of Jesus with as many people as possible) we need to be thinking MORE about eternity not LESS. Look at what Paul says in the first letter to Timothy:

"But we are CITIZENS of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are EAGERLY waiting for His return as our savior." ( 1 Timothy 3:20 NLT)

QUESTION TO CONSIDER: Am I living my life as if I am a citizen of Heaven? Am I eagerly waiting for Christ's return? Or have I let myself believe the lie that this earth is my home?

APPLICATION: I need to live my life everyday IN LIGH OF ETERNITY. I need to remember that this earth is not my home...it's my temporary assignment. It's my tent....not my home.

PRACTICAL STEPS: Today I am going to read verses throughout the day that deal with Heaven. Have these verses handy so I can re-read them on the days when I lose sight of my hope of Heaven.

Created over 1 year ago