We Are Foreigners Whose Citizenship Is In Heaven!

This morning I have been reading Peter's first letter. A couple of related verses caught my eye, here they are:

1 Peter 1:17 NIV
'Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear."

1 Peter 2:11-12 NIV
[11] "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. [12] Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

This idea that Peter expresses in these two verses, is that as Christians, we are foreigners on the earth. The reason this is the case is that our home, our nation is not found on earth, but rather in Heaven. As Peter says, [9] "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Pete 2:9-10

Paul says, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,..." Phil 3:20

This is such an interesting concept and idea, and something we must embrace. So many of us just want to fit in, be like everyone else, but we are encouraged to consider ourselves foreigners, understanding we have a different home, a different culture, a different nation. We are not supposed to embrace the culture of those around us, but rather the culture of our home. We should think and act differently than those around us who are in the world, not in pride, but as Peter says, "...in reverent fear". We should "live such good lives among the pagans", that our lives become a light that guides them to the Lord. As Jesus said, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matt 5:16

Yes Lord, help us to embrace our citizenship in Heaven, and live our lives here based on this fact.