We have a very close friend who moved to Florida from Puerto Rico twenty-six years ago. Understandably, she is still proud of her native country, misses family there, and occasionally longs to see her hometown. However, during a recent visit, she realized that her old home simply isn’t home any more. So much has changed in Puerto Rico over the years that it barely resembles how she remembers it. Moreover, she has built a new life here with current relationships and has a grace church that she loves. Her epiphany has been that her new life is really home. Her former home could never really be home again.

Philippians 3:20 says: “For our conversation [or citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” In a real sense, every true child of God today has had a transfer of citizenship. Prior to salvation, we all “…walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). We were at home, or comfortable, with the sinful characteristics of our day. But that changes within when we trust in Christ alone for salvation. “…If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [or creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). This certainly does not mean believers never fail in sin or never again desire sinful activities. It does mean that God changes us within spiritually. Now, when we knowingly sin, the Holy Spirit strikes our conscience and gives us a deep desire to live for Christ instead of simply for self. Like Moses, who refused the “pleasures of sin” in Egypt so that he might walk with the Lord (Hebrews 11:24-27), believers are drawn in the new nature, by God, to walk with Him. We realize, as the chorus says: “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue…” Our real home is heaven.

Talk about your new heavenly home, think about it, and long to see it. Never again allow yourself to become “at home” in this world. Our life should now be spent setting our affections on things above (Colossians 3:1-6) and living for Christ. We must be looking for the Savior who may return for us soon. Remember, you are now a citizen of heaven.