Citizenship in Heaven: Living with an Eternal Perspective

Editor’s note – JM Troppello didn’t set out to write theology this week. She set out to help her mother-in-law update a voter registration. But that ordinary errand circled back to the biggest fact of a Christian’s life: our citizenship was never really here. We’re running her reflection because it ties a mundane afternoon full of forms and phone calls to an eternal truth worth remembering.

An ordinary afternoon helping a family member reminded me that while we have responsibilities here on Earth, our eternal home is with the Lord

As I’ve shared in some recent articles, my husband and I have been helping my mother-in-law move into a new apartment. She’s already settled into her new place, but we’re still helping her take care of things as she makes the transition.

Yesterday, she called us with another concern. With the November 3 election approaching, she realized that she hadn’t updated her voter registration information since moving. We’ve already helped her update some address information, but a few things still need to be updated.

This afternoon, I spent time researching the requirements for her new municipality and county. I used ChatGPT to find information, then tried contacting the county Board of Elections to confirm what she needs to do. I wasn’t able to reach anyone by phone, so I sent an email and plan to follow up.

As I was working through all of this, something came to mind that had nothing to do with voter registration.

It was the idea of where we truly reside.

Our Citizenship Is in Heaven

When I sit down to write my articles, I don’t always know exactly what I’ll write about. I have a list of possible topics, but sometimes I prefer to share what’s been on my heart or what God has been reminding me of through my everyday experiences.

That’s what happened today. As I researched residency requirements and thought about everything we have to update when we move, I started thinking about our heavenly citizenship as believers in Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20 says, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I love that reminder.

We have responsibilities here on Earth. We have addresses, driver’s licenses, voter registrations, bills to pay, jobs to do, families to care for, and laws and regulations we’re expected to follow.

Those things are part of living in this world, and we should take our responsibilities seriously. But as Christians, this world isn’t our permanent home. Our true citizenship is in Heaven.

And one day, we’ll be with the Lord for eternity.

Hebrews 13:14 reminds us, “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.”

That verse puts so many things into perspective for me.

We spend a lot of time making plans, handling responsibilities, and trying to make sure everything in our lives is taken care of. There’s nothing wrong with that, but sometimes we can become so focused on everything happening around us that we forget where our ultimate hope is found.

Our hope isn’t in having every detail of our earthly lives perfectly organized.

Our hope is in Jesus Christ.

Through His death and resurrection, we can receive forgiveness for our sins and eternal life through faith in Him. We’re saved by His grace, not because we’ve earned our way into Heaven through our own good works.

And because of that, we can live with the assurance that this life isn’t all there is.

Editor’s note – Paul wrote that line about citizenship in Heaven from a prison cell. He wasn’t describing an escape from troubles; he was describing an anchor steady enough to hold through them.

Living Here While Looking Toward Heaven

As I thought about this today, I realized this reminder has another side. Yes, our citizenship is in Heaven. But God has also placed us here on Earth for a purpose.

We’re not supposed to spend our lives simply waiting for the day when we’ll be with Him. We have opportunities right now to grow in our relationship with God, love others, serve people, and share the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

And if I’m being truthful, sometimes I need to be reminded of that too. Life gets busy. Family responsibilities, work obligations, household chores, errands, and all the little things fill our schedules before we even realize how much time has passed.

I’ve certainly experienced that lately with everything we’ve been helping our families accomplish. But I don’t want to get so caught up in everyday responsibilities that I overlook opportunities to share the love of Christ with the people around me.

Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.”

I think about that verse often. Being a light doesn’t always mean having a long conversation with someone about the Bible. Sometimes it starts with a simple act of kindness: offering to pray for someone, listening when they’re going through something difficult, or showing patience when it would be easier to get frustrated.

Editor’s note – This is the balance many believers struggle to hold: fully engaged here, fully anchored there. JM Troppello’s point about small kindnesses opening the door to deeper conversations is worth remembering next time patience feels like the harder choice.

Those moments can open the door to deeper conversations. And when God gives us an opportunity to share the gospel, I want to be willing to step through that door.

I want people to know that there is hope beyond whatever they’re facing today. I want them to know that Jesus loves them, that He died for their sins and rose again, and that salvation and eternal life are available through faith in Him. That’s a message worth sharing.

Remembering Where We’re Going

One thing I’ve been learning this year is the importance of being intentional. That’s been my word for the year, and it keeps coming back to me in so many different situations.

Today was another example. I started my afternoon trying to help my mother-in-law figure out what she needed to do about her voter registration. By the time I sat down to write this article, I was thinking about something much bigger than an address change.

I was thinking about eternity. I was thankful that my future is secure in Jesus Christ. And I was thinking about how many people in this world need to hear that same message of hope.

I don’t always know when the right opportunity will come to share my faith with someone. But I can continue praying, growing in my relationship with God, and asking Him to help me recognize the doors He opens.

I can be intentional about how I treat people. I can be intentional about spending time in His Word. And I can be intentional about remembering that my life here on Earth has an eternal purpose.

We may have earthly addresses that change throughout our lives. We may move from one house to another, one town to another, or even one state to another. But as believers, our heavenly citizenship doesn’t change.

Our eternal hope is found in Jesus Christ.

And while we’re still here, we have the privilege and responsibility of sharing that hope with others. I’m thankful for that reminder today, even though it came through something as ordinary as researching voter registration requirements. Sometimes God uses the simplest circumstances to redirect our thoughts to what matters most.

As you go through your everyday responsibilities, how do you remind yourself to keep an eternal perspective and look for opportunities to share the hope of Christ with others?

A Word from the Editor
Hebrews 13:14 says we have no continuing city here, and most of us feel that most sharply in moments smaller than a funeral or a diagnosis – moments like changing an address or watching a parent move into a new home. None of that work is wasted. But none of it is permanent either. We hold our earthly addresses loosely, do what’s in front of us with care, and keep our eyes fixed on the one city that will never need an update.

Editor Comment: JM Troppello's reminder that our true citizenship is in Heaven is a timely, encouraging word for anyone feeling weighed down by today's endless to-do lists and transitions.

This article appeared on Medium and is reprinted with modifications and by permission.