The Blessings of Being a Citizen

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

I’ve always loved the 4th of July. As a kid, I looked forward to the Independence Day parade our little town in northeast Ohio had every year. Then there was the cookout in the backyard: hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, corn on the cob, fresh watermelon, and—best of all—s’mores. And finally, fireworks!

But more substantial than all of those fun traditions are, the reality is that life in America has been a tremendous blessing. The freedom to build a life, raise a family, worship God, and live out my faith—that’s a huge privilege, and one many people in this world don’t experience. America has her scars and problems to be sure, but on the whole, I feel like I won the global lottery when I woke up as a US citizen.

And you know what’s even better? In Christ, we are citizens of heaven! In Philippians 3:20 the apostle Paul reminds us: “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” All the blessings of our earthly citizenship will never compare with the glories of what it means to be a citizen of heaven and a member of the family of God from every nation, tribe, language, and people.

So as we celebrate our earthly citizenship as Americans this weekend, let us not forget our true citizenship lies far beyond these borders in a kingdom that shall never pass away. Jesus is King over all nations. And it is in Him that we are loved, more than we know!