Citizen of Heaven or Enemy of the Cross of Christ?

“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:18-21).

I read a quote that says, “Its choice- not chance that determines your destiny.” by Jean Nidetch. However, God says in the Bible that He had already written your destiny based on the choice you make right now.

In today’s passage, Apostle Paul says he repeats the same thing. Many people live as if they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their attitudes, words, and actions indicate they are the enemies of the Cross of Jesus. They live for the now and here. They live for their stomach and lustful passions. They glory in apparently shameful things. Shame actions are glorious for them. They always and continuously think about earthly things. If the statement was true in the first century, how much more is it true today? Their destiny is destruction.

However, there is a second group of people in our insight. They know their citizenship is not here on the earth. They know for sure theirs is in heaven. They eagerly wait for the savior who comes from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died, buried, rose again for them, and then ascended to heaven. (Acts 1:9-11). Why do they wait eagerly? The next verse says, “Lord Jesus Christ will transform their lowly bodies so that they will be like the glorious body of Him. Their bodies will look like his glorious and majestic body. How does he do this? It says, “by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control.” Colossians 1:17 says this about the Son of God, Jesus. It says, “He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.” Who holds the whole universe together? Who has the power to do it? Bible says Jesus Christ does this. The gigantic machine called the whole universe runs on its track with no collisions or slightest technical issues because Christ Jesus holds it together in his power.

Beloved, your humble and lowly bodies will be transformed to look like his glorious and heavenly body by the exertion of the same power that Jesus holds all the universe together. Your glorious destiny is already written if you are a believer in Christ Jesus. God had already written the epilogue of your life if you have His Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 3 says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children. That is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are god’s children because they don’t know Him. We are God’s children, but he has not shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”
What great love God the Father has lavished on you that you would share the glory of His Son throughout eternity. Is it not the amazing grace of God that saved a wretch like me?

Beloved, do not wait for the chance. Chance or your best wish would never make it. It is your choice that determines your future destiny. You choose your career, your spouse, your house, and you choose your political party. However, the most important choice you would make is none of the above. It is this- where will you spend your eternity when you breathe last? This is the cardinal and most vital choice you would ever make. Jesus says and it is recorded in Revelation 3:20, “’Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Door means the door of your heart. Invite Jesus to come into your life. He promises he will dine with you. It means if you invite him to come in, he will accept you no matter who you are. He will fellowship with you, not only here on this earth, but also all through eternity. At the time of your death, he takes you to His home in heaven. You will spend eternity with Him. What a wonderful choice! What a marvelous invitation!

“Father in heaven, I do not want my destiny in destruction. I want to make sure my destiny is heaven with you. I believe by accepting Jesus Christ as my savior I can be a citizen of heaven. I also know Jesus by the exertion of his power that holds all in control will transform my lowly body to become like his glorious body. I open the door of my heart and life and invite Jesus to come in. Please give me your love and fellowship now and forever. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”