For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
The word rendered conversation means citizenship and manner of life, the whole bent of attention and concern, not merely spoken words. Those whose conversation is in heaven belong to heaven as their true home and country, and live on earth as pilgrims, strangers and sojourners seeking the city God has prepared. From heaven they look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come in glory at His soon second coming to receive them to Himself and bring them to the place He has prepared. At His coming He will change the vile, mortal, corruptible body and fashion it like His own glorious, immortal body by His power to subdue all things. Profession of that heavenly citizenship must agree with works, in a life centered on heavenly things and the expected Saviour rather than absorbed in temporary things, and in character fitted during probation, for His return will give immortality to those already prepared.
Meaning of Conversation
The word rendered conversation means citizenship and manner of life, not merely spoken words but attention, concerns, outlook and tenor of life centered in heaven. Holy conduct under this heavenly hope includes speech, so that light and trifling talk contradicts profession because it is not centered on heaven and the expected Savior. Keeping heart and thoughts on heavenly things gives vigor to Christian graces and duties, and with Christ abiding in the heart by faith thoughts are refined and words are carefully chosen rather than trivial, to be shown in a holy example. Speaking about God's character and the heavenly home makes words useful and refreshing, with power to transform and soften others, and living with this heavenly focus means making God known and drawing others to Christ's loveliness through prophetic history toward the end of time and through the cross of Calvary. It means pressing forward rather than dwelling on past mistakes and putting away discontent, murmuring and quarrels, seeking what is above rather than earthly gain with attention directed toward God and heavenly things.
Those whose conversation is in heaven stand in contrast to the enemies of the cross of Christ who mind earthly things, and to those whose citizenship is in this world. Christians belong to heaven and look for Jesus Christ their Savior to come from there, and because of this heavenly citizenship and coming transformation they are to stand fast in the Lord. That coming transformation is Christ's promise to change the vile body to be fashioned like His glorious body by His power to bring all things under His rule and subdue all things unto Himself. The person who lives as a citizen of this world is distinguished from one who belongs to the better, heavenly country, for people absorbed in pleasure and selfish amusements do not recognize truth or know Jesus Christ, while attention to higher things can help them see this difference.
To have conversation in heaven is to keep mind, thoughts, affections, speech and conduct centered on heavenly things and on the expected Savior, rather than becoming absorbed in temporary and earthly things. Believers should speak and dwell on heavenly things rather than earthly things, and rather than on the faults of others, for heaven is a place without death or pain from which they look for Christ to return. Meditation on heavenly things is profitable and brings the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. When Christ abides in a person, what comes from the heart in speech and conduct reflects a heavenly focus. Having conversation in heaven means living with heaven as home and directing life toward God's will, joined with constant effort to keep Jesus as the perfect Pattern, which helps believers leave behind what is unlike Him and grow in service to their Creator.
Citizenship in Heaven
Believers belong to heaven, for their true home, country, enduring home, and citizenship are there, and from there they wait and look for Jesus Christ to come as Saviour and Lord. On earth they live as pilgrims, strangers, and sojourners, seeking a heavenly country and the city God has prepared, carrying out the law of Christ's kingdom in this world while their true citizenship remains above. The Christian's citizenship is in heaven, not in this world, and those who love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, whose prayers and giving rise as a memorial before God and who walk in all the light they receive under His special watchcare, are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household.
They are members of God's royal family, children of the heavenly King, sons and daughters of God by adoption into His family with the privilege of calling Him Father, the highest honor He can bestow. They belong to the Son of God, who purchased them with His blood, and each soul is precious to Him, born again to a high and exalted birthright. That birthright forbids stooping to anything low, cheap, or questionable, being found in suspicious places, or letting their good be evil spoken of, and calls them instead to live and speak and act as citizens of heaven itself, exerting a saving influence as salt and lifting the voice like a trumpet against sin rather than converting the world by conformity to its evil practices. Preparation for that membership begins in the early years of life through home religion that causes the fear of God to circulate through the family, where parents governing children by right principles and upholding parental authority keep them from coming under the enemy's control and from unhappiness.
Christ's kingdom is not established on earth before His return, and until then His followers are strangers and pilgrims whose allegiance is to God and to Christ as Prince and head. They are citizens of God's city, whose citizens belong to all the regions of heaven, in contrast to the earthly city called Babylon, and their true allegiance is to God, not to earthly powers that claim divine authority. Their heavenly citizenship is shown in loyal obedience to God's commandments and in conduct representing the kingdom's goodness, mercy, tenderness, and courtesy, putting on Christ's righteousness and living by the Christian standard rather than having identity and conduct governed by earthly powers and worldly practices.
Heaven above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, is a place without death or pain, where God's obedient people as citizens will share a life with the heavenly King lasting forever, free from sorrow, pain, death, and sin. The living Jesus who ascended from the Mount of Olives remains there to intercede, and because He shared human sorrow and suffering He understands troubles and is a present help in times of trouble, to be trusted and looked to by faith. Believers whose conversation is in heaven therefore speak and dwell on heavenly things rather than earthly things while they look for Christ to return.
The present life is only a training school that purifies believers to fit them for the inheritance of the saints in light, for entrance into the courts above, and for the higher school, with fitness for heavenly citizenship as the object of true education. There genuine conversion radically changes the heart, character, and every line of conduct, with no compromise with sin and no patchwork religion accepted, so that at Christ's coming they may be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Since citizenship is not of this world but from above, believers are to be introduced to a new country, a better world, where they will live as inhabitants and associates of the saints of God in freedom with Christ and the angels, keeping minds on encouraging heavenly things and considering what character they must possess to be fitted for that world. Lives must not be devoted to a world that will soon be destroyed, and teaching and schoolbooks should make heaven and the city built by God the highest theme of thought, while faithful instruction of children in early years, given steadily and without neglect, prepares them for that heavenly citizenship and helps them become good and useful members of society.
Looking for the Saviour
The verse teaches that those whose home belongs to heaven look and wait from there for Jesus Christ to come as Saviour and Lord. This heavenly looking stands in contrast to minding earthly things, and it is joined to His promise to change the lowly body to be like His glorious body by the power by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself, so that because of this citizenship and coming transformation believers stand fast in the Lord. The Christian's citizenship is in heaven, and from heaven Christians expect Him.
They look for His soon return in glory, His second appearing to receive them to Himself and take them to the place He has prepared. They expect eternal life from the Lord Jesus as the giver of every good and perfect gift and the source of all blessing and hope, living with attention centered on heaven while preparing for translation to the heavenly world at His glorious appearing. When He comes He will change their mortal bodies to be like His glorious body, ending sin and temptation, and this hope calls for readiness and purity and brings joy. It leads them to treat earthly honor and distinction as worthless emptiness and nothingness, to live on earth as pilgrims and strangers advancing heavenward toward the city God has prepared, and to gather Christ's righteousness into the soul so as to shine as a burning light in moral darkness. It means looking for the city that has foundations whose builder and maker is God, looking for the Lord to come, and preparing for the glorious jubilee that will begin when they enter the gates of the city of God.
Looking for Him places the believer in an attitude of expectation expressed in working and waiting and watching and praying, and this blessed hope with its solemn realities is to be presented often to keep believers watchful to be counted worthy and ready to stand before the Son of man. It means waiting, watching, praying and working for the coming Saviour with mind, heart and strength purchased by His blood, with heart united to His heart and life inwrought with His life, clothed with His righteousness and holding the oil of grace. It produces vigorous faith, lively hope, fervent love and holy consecrated zeal for God, creating a decided distinction from the world. It is shown in refusing conformity to the world in speech or in a complaining spirit, in wearing neat apparel that attracts no attention and creates no controversy, in refusing to dabble in politics or to choose company for amusement, and in ceasing to be infatuated by childish things while looking for the city God has built.
Enoch shows what this heavenly belonging looks like in a life on earth. His heart, thoughts and deepest concerns were fixed on eternal things: he longed for God's home and had seen the heavenly city and its glorious King. Though surrounded by growing evil, he lived by faith as one who belonged to heaven.
Body Changed at Coming
At His coming Christ will change the vile, mortal, corruptible, frail body and fashion it like His own glorious, immortal body, by the working of His power by which He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself, giving the finishing touch of immortality. This hope belongs to those whose citizenship is in heaven and who look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from there, in contrast to enemies of the cross who mind earthly things, and because of it they are to stand fast in the Lord. Those who look for Jesus to return are to live so that conduct and speech show heavenly citizenship and waiting for the Saviour, rather than being absorbed in worldly amusements, pride, dress, or trivial talk. Longing for His appearing grows strongest when living near the Lord, to be made fit to meet Him.
That change is welcomed even though it happens in a moment of transformation, and it makes the end of sin and everlasting holiness desirable. His coming ends sin and temptation, brings His children home, and changes mortal frail bodies to be like His glorious body. Through His merits even a fallen and degraded person may become an heir of immortality, with elevated and ennobled thoughts, a purified heart, and a life oriented toward heaven. God's obedient people as citizens of heaven will share a life with the heavenly King that lasts forever, free from sorrow, pain, and death.
The divine Life-giver and Restorer will remove every deformity, disease, and disfigurement and give eternal life, restoring perfect health and symmetry. Bodily deformity or outward condition does not have to be healed in this life in order to be saved, and outward things like color of hair or form of body do not decide entrance into the holy city, for the change of the body comes from Christ at His coming. Even when poor and afflicted in this world, those whose hearts are washed in the blood of the Lamb can see in anticipation the joy that will be theirs in heaven, and in the great day of God all who are faithful and true will receive the healing touch of the divine Restorer. Believers look forward to the Lifegiver calling the dead from their graves, to meet loved ones again in immortal, glorious bodies, not in former mortal bodies.
Jesus' resurrection is the pattern for the resurrection of those who sleep in Him, and as the disciples recognized the risen Jesus by His familiar body, manner, and voice, the resurrected will retain individual identity and be recognized by those who love them. Those who sleep in Christ will rise with glorified bodies, and personal identity will remain so they will recognize loved ones. The resurrected saints and those alive at His coming will be caught up together to meet the Lord.
Character must be fitted and perfected during probation, for Christ's return will not be a time to purify or refine character but to give immortality to those already prepared, each fitted for a place in God's temple. Those who hold this hope must come up to a higher plane of action and work from a higher standpoint, cultivating the moral and intellectual powers, avoiding what suggests impure thoughts, and rising to that higher standard of life, or they will not be of the number who receive that change. This present life is only a training-school in which genuine conversion radically changes the heart, character, and every line of conduct, with no compromise with sin and no patchwork religion accepted, so that believers are purified to be without spot or wrinkle and prepared to receive the inheritance of the saints in light. The life of heaven begins in this world as believers live in purity and use sanctified powers in work appointed by God, powers that will be strengthened and used on a wider and nobler scale in the future life, with change of heart, putting away iniquity, drawing near to God and opening the doors of the heart to let the sunlight of heaven in, so that business and all conduct ennoble and show they are not of the world.
Heavenly Life on Earth
Profession of heavenly citizenship must agree with works, for conduct should make that citizenship evident to the world . A self-indulgent, ease-loving, selfish, earthly life misrepresents Christ, contradicts the claim to believe truth, denies professed heavenly citizenship, deceives the world and betrays the truth . Mere profession hinders souls, and those whose selfish works show they are dwellers on earth will find the day of judgment come upon them as a snare, for God sifts His people by testing purposes and motives . The hope of Christ's return calls for holy living after Jesus' meek, self-denying example, for seeking God's approval rather than outward adornment or the world's approval, and a worldly manner of life contradicts profession of waiting for Him . A heavenly profession must be matched by a life free from selfish ambition, pride and self-exaltation, with holy principles adopted, for conduct reveals whether the profession is genuine .
Conversation and thoughts directed toward heaven bring the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit, and meditation on heavenly things is profitable . Converse with God and contemplation of things above elevates and ennobles the spirit, gives vigor to Christian graces and duties, and transforms the soul into the likeness of Christ and the divine image . Affections set upon heaven turn from panting after earthly enjoyments, pleasure-seeking, vanity and folly, and reach out after God for pardon and peace, for righteousness and true holiness, crying for unmistakable assurance of God's love and a foundation for everlasting life built sure upon Christ . Keeping heart and thoughts on heavenly things makes words useful and refreshing, with power to transform and soften others . Daily loving God and loving truth for truth's sake, bringing truth into heart and mind, following Jesus wherever He leads, learning more of Jesus, talking much of His coming, and constantly receiving grace from above as oil of the grace of Christ nourishes experience day by day by the Holy Spirit, keeps lamps trimmed and burning brightly instead of flickering out, and makes ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb . Even a fallen person whose heart is purified by God's love and whose thoughts are elevated through Christ may through His merits become an heir of immortality with character ennobled by looking to Jesus and believing in Him .
This heavenly orientation is shown in sober, prayerful watchfulness and a life directed toward holiness, for merely professing Christ does not show it . Thoughts and conversation centered on heaven press toward what lies ahead rather than dwelling on past mistakes, and reject discontent, murmuring, complaint, quarrels and faultfinding, so that conduct on earth shows the principles of heaven . A minister's life and daily talk belong to heaven with God's grace in the heart and God's glory constantly in view, and his speech and conduct should avoid lightness, trifling and flattery and speak with grace, serious and gracious, especially in visiting house to house to learn spiritual condition and to counsel, exhort and reprove carefully and wisely while living near to God, since flattery gratifies vanity and perverts the mind from meekness and humility while reproof is more to be prized . Preparation for translation to the heavenly world keeps attention and conversation centered on heaven while looking to the Lord Jesus as the one from whom eternal life is expected, acknowledging Him as giver of every good and perfect gift and source of all blessings and hope .
Heavenly belonging means being God's purified peculiar people zealous of good works, giving up pride of dress and appearance and pride of opinion, refusing to dress or act like the world, being decided and wholehearted instead of half-hearted, standing with God's humble people as living devoted Christians, and shaking off every shackle to secure salvation and lead others by right example toward a rich and glorious reward . It requires coming out from the world and separating from all its contaminating influences, having no connection with idolatry in any of its forms, reaching a higher standard and being distinct in practice from sin and sinners, which is the condition for being received into the Lord's family as members of God's royal family and children of the heavenly King . Believers should not conform to the world in conduct or dress, should seek God's approval rather than focus on outward adornment or the world's approval, should refuse to dabble in politics, to choose company for amusement, and to be infatuated by childish things, wearing neat apparel that attracts no attention and creates no controversy, while remaining kind and courteous to unbelievers so as to lead others to truth . Waiting, watching, praying and working for the coming Saviour with mind, heart and strength purchased by His blood, hearts united with His heart, life inwrought with His life, clothed with His righteousness and holding the oil of grace, looks for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God .
As citizens of heaven and subjects of Christ's kingdom with Christ as Prince and head, educators, ministers and all who labor together with God have no battles to fight in the political world and carry the burden of a special work and special message inscribed as the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus . They must not link interests with any political party nor cast vote with them or for them, must not bind themselves to worldly political parties or interests, must not make enemies over political questions, must not engage in political strife, and must stand as a separate and peculiar people without schism possessing the elements of reconciliation, doing the work appointed by God and revealing personal responsibility before the heavenly universe, before angels and before men, instead of enlarging influence by mingling with society and linking up with men on political questions . Those who spend their time making political speeches are changing leaders and cannot claim the privilege of being subjects of the heavenly kingdom, for such activity reflects a change of allegiance and disgrace to divine citizenship, which requires standing under the true colors, identifying with Christ, and never failing to render to God the honor due Him . This heavenly citizenship calls for faith that works through love and purifies the soul, obedience to God, and a life representing Christ's character with joy in hope of an immortal inheritance as God's children and joint heirs with Christ .
Heavenly-minded life is shown by consecration to God and by conduct that leads others toward heaven, and it must not be compromised by joining with those opposed to the Lord . The expectation of Christ's coming calls for consecration and faithfulness to God even when following Him is painful, with sober, prayerful watchfulness toward holiness rather than mere profession . It is lived by bringing Christ into the home as an honored guest, talking of His love and goodness, letting Him appear in all that is said and done because His love is valued, with daily speech, words, manners and acts set in heaven while looking for the Saviour, bringing greater refinement and deeper, more constant spirituality through the sanctifying, purifying influence of His Spirit seen in words and acts in home life and church work . The hope of that higher life and its privileges should shape living and lead to preparing children and friends for heavenly citizenship, with faithful instruction in early years given steadily and without neglect helping them become good and useful members of society and fitting them for the kingdom of heaven .
Those who love God supremely and neighbor as self, whose prayers and giving rise as a memorial before God, who walk in all light received and live under His special watchcare, are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, carrying out the law of Christ's kingdom in this world while true citizenship remains in heaven as they wait for Jesus Christ to come as Saviour . Faithful service in everyday duties links workers with angels who serve God in heaven, for treating the humble round of duties as appointed by the Lord and doing every duty as unto the Lord with faithfulness like angels show in their higher sphere links workers on earth with holy beings who do God's will in heaven . Those who serve God faithfully become the best citizens of earth, because a correct view of duty to God gives clear perception of duty to fellow men . Having more of heaven does not unfit for life on earth but gives more enjoyment here, requiring drawing near to God, opening heart doors to heaven's sunlight, putting away iniquity and hating sin as hateful, a change of heart and purity of life so the world sees believers are not of the world, with business transactions and all conduct ennobling by God's converting power and truth to lead others to light . Daily duties performed in the fear of God form character and a life record able to pass the test of judgment, and citizens of heaven can be trusted anywhere, with blameless conduct marked by humility and Christ's character as a confession of Christ purified by truth .
Further points
Those who have become partakers of the divine nature hold citizenship in heaven. Their life is turned toward God rather than toward earthly things. Their conversation is shaped by the Spirit of Christ and bears the character of heaven.
The word rendered conversation means citizenship and manner of life, the whole bent of attention and concern, not merely spoken words. Those whose conversation is in heaven belong to heaven as their true home and country, and live on earth as pilgrims, strangers and sojourners seeking the city God has prepared. From heaven they look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come in glory at His soon second coming to receive them to Himself and bring them to the place He has prepared. At His coming He will change the vile, mortal, corruptible body and fashion it like His own glorious, immortal body by His power to subdue all things. Profession of that heavenly citizenship must agree with works, in a life centered on heavenly things and the expected Saviour rather than absorbed in temporary things, and in character fitted during probation, for His return will give immortality to those already prepared.
Meaning of Conversation
The word rendered conversation means citizenship and manner of life, not merely spoken words but attention, concerns, outlook and tenor of life centered in heaven. Holy conduct under this heavenly hope includes speech, so that light and trifling talk contradicts profession because it is not centered on heaven and the expected Savior. Keeping heart and thoughts on heavenly things gives vigor to Christian graces and duties, and with Christ abiding in the heart by faith thoughts are refined and words are carefully chosen rather than trivial, to be shown in a holy example. Speaking about God's character and the heavenly home makes words useful and refreshing, with power to transform and soften others, and living with this heavenly focus means making God known and drawing others to Christ's loveliness through prophetic history toward the end of time and through the cross of Calvary. It means pressing forward rather than dwelling on past mistakes and putting away discontent, murmuring and quarrels, seeking what is above rather than earthly gain with attention directed toward God and heavenly things.
Those whose conversation is in heaven stand in contrast to the enemies of the cross of Christ who mind earthly things, and to those whose citizenship is in this world. Christians belong to heaven and look for Jesus Christ their Savior to come from there, and because of this heavenly citizenship and coming transformation they are to stand fast in the Lord. That coming transformation is Christ's promise to change the vile body to be fashioned like His glorious body by His power to bring all things under His rule and subdue all things unto Himself. The person who lives as a citizen of this world is distinguished from one who belongs to the better, heavenly country, for people absorbed in pleasure and selfish amusements do not recognize truth or know Jesus Christ, while attention to higher things can help them see this difference.
To have conversation in heaven is to keep mind, thoughts, affections, speech and conduct centered on heavenly things and on the expected Savior, rather than becoming absorbed in temporary and earthly things. Believers should speak and dwell on heavenly things rather than earthly things, and rather than on the faults of others, for heaven is a place without death or pain from which they look for Christ to return. Meditation on heavenly things is profitable and brings the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. When Christ abides in a person, what comes from the heart in speech and conduct reflects a heavenly focus. Having conversation in heaven means living with heaven as home and directing life toward God's will, joined with constant effort to keep Jesus as the perfect Pattern, which helps believers leave behind what is unlike Him and grow in service to their Creator.
Citizenship in Heaven
Believers belong to heaven, for their true home, country, enduring home, and citizenship are there, and from there they wait and look for Jesus Christ to come as Saviour and Lord. On earth they live as pilgrims, strangers, and sojourners, seeking a heavenly country and the city God has prepared, carrying out the law of Christ's kingdom in this world while their true citizenship remains above. The Christian's citizenship is in heaven, not in this world, and those who love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, whose prayers and giving rise as a memorial before God and who walk in all the light they receive under His special watchcare, are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household.
They are members of God's royal family, children of the heavenly King, sons and daughters of God by adoption into His family with the privilege of calling Him Father, the highest honor He can bestow. They belong to the Son of God, who purchased them with His blood, and each soul is precious to Him, born again to a high and exalted birthright. That birthright forbids stooping to anything low, cheap, or questionable, being found in suspicious places, or letting their good be evil spoken of, and calls them instead to live and speak and act as citizens of heaven itself, exerting a saving influence as salt and lifting the voice like a trumpet against sin rather than converting the world by conformity to its evil practices. Preparation for that membership begins in the early years of life through home religion that causes the fear of God to circulate through the family, where parents governing children by right principles and upholding parental authority keep them from coming under the enemy's control and from unhappiness.
Christ's kingdom is not established on earth before His return, and until then His followers are strangers and pilgrims whose allegiance is to God and to Christ as Prince and head. They are citizens of God's city, whose citizens belong to all the regions of heaven, in contrast to the earthly city called Babylon, and their true allegiance is to God, not to earthly powers that claim divine authority. Their heavenly citizenship is shown in loyal obedience to God's commandments and in conduct representing the kingdom's goodness, mercy, tenderness, and courtesy, putting on Christ's righteousness and living by the Christian standard rather than having identity and conduct governed by earthly powers and worldly practices.
Heaven above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, is a place without death or pain, where God's obedient people as citizens will share a life with the heavenly King lasting forever, free from sorrow, pain, death, and sin. The living Jesus who ascended from the Mount of Olives remains there to intercede, and because He shared human sorrow and suffering He understands troubles and is a present help in times of trouble, to be trusted and looked to by faith. Believers whose conversation is in heaven therefore speak and dwell on heavenly things rather than earthly things while they look for Christ to return.
The present life is only a training school that purifies believers to fit them for the inheritance of the saints in light, for entrance into the courts above, and for the higher school, with fitness for heavenly citizenship as the object of true education. There genuine conversion radically changes the heart, character, and every line of conduct, with no compromise with sin and no patchwork religion accepted, so that at Christ's coming they may be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Since citizenship is not of this world but from above, believers are to be introduced to a new country, a better world, where they will live as inhabitants and associates of the saints of God in freedom with Christ and the angels, keeping minds on encouraging heavenly things and considering what character they must possess to be fitted for that world. Lives must not be devoted to a world that will soon be destroyed, and teaching and schoolbooks should make heaven and the city built by God the highest theme of thought, while faithful instruction of children in early years, given steadily and without neglect, prepares them for that heavenly citizenship and helps them become good and useful members of society.
Looking for the Saviour
The verse teaches that those whose home belongs to heaven look and wait from there for Jesus Christ to come as Saviour and Lord. This heavenly looking stands in contrast to minding earthly things, and it is joined to His promise to change the lowly body to be like His glorious body by the power by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself, so that because of this citizenship and coming transformation believers stand fast in the Lord. The Christian's citizenship is in heaven, and from heaven Christians expect Him.
They look for His soon return in glory, His second appearing to receive them to Himself and take them to the place He has prepared. They expect eternal life from the Lord Jesus as the giver of every good and perfect gift and the source of all blessing and hope, living with attention centered on heaven while preparing for translation to the heavenly world at His glorious appearing. When He comes He will change their mortal bodies to be like His glorious body, ending sin and temptation, and this hope calls for readiness and purity and brings joy. It leads them to treat earthly honor and distinction as worthless emptiness and nothingness, to live on earth as pilgrims and strangers advancing heavenward toward the city God has prepared, and to gather Christ's righteousness into the soul so as to shine as a burning light in moral darkness. It means looking for the city that has foundations whose builder and maker is God, looking for the Lord to come, and preparing for the glorious jubilee that will begin when they enter the gates of the city of God.
Looking for Him places the believer in an attitude of expectation expressed in working and waiting and watching and praying, and this blessed hope with its solemn realities is to be presented often to keep believers watchful to be counted worthy and ready to stand before the Son of man. It means waiting, watching, praying and working for the coming Saviour with mind, heart and strength purchased by His blood, with heart united to His heart and life inwrought with His life, clothed with His righteousness and holding the oil of grace. It produces vigorous faith, lively hope, fervent love and holy consecrated zeal for God, creating a decided distinction from the world. It is shown in refusing conformity to the world in speech or in a complaining spirit, in wearing neat apparel that attracts no attention and creates no controversy, in refusing to dabble in politics or to choose company for amusement, and in ceasing to be infatuated by childish things while looking for the city God has built.
Enoch shows what this heavenly belonging looks like in a life on earth. His heart, thoughts and deepest concerns were fixed on eternal things: he longed for God's home and had seen the heavenly city and its glorious King. Though surrounded by growing evil, he lived by faith as one who belonged to heaven.
Body Changed at Coming
At His coming Christ will change the vile, mortal, corruptible, frail body and fashion it like His own glorious, immortal body, by the working of His power by which He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself, giving the finishing touch of immortality. This hope belongs to those whose citizenship is in heaven and who look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from there, in contrast to enemies of the cross who mind earthly things, and because of it they are to stand fast in the Lord. Those who look for Jesus to return are to live so that conduct and speech show heavenly citizenship and waiting for the Saviour, rather than being absorbed in worldly amusements, pride, dress, or trivial talk. Longing for His appearing grows strongest when living near the Lord, to be made fit to meet Him.
That change is welcomed even though it happens in a moment of transformation, and it makes the end of sin and everlasting holiness desirable. His coming ends sin and temptation, brings His children home, and changes mortal frail bodies to be like His glorious body. Through His merits even a fallen and degraded person may become an heir of immortality, with elevated and ennobled thoughts, a purified heart, and a life oriented toward heaven. God's obedient people as citizens of heaven will share a life with the heavenly King that lasts forever, free from sorrow, pain, and death.
The divine Life-giver and Restorer will remove every deformity, disease, and disfigurement and give eternal life, restoring perfect health and symmetry. Bodily deformity or outward condition does not have to be healed in this life in order to be saved, and outward things like color of hair or form of body do not decide entrance into the holy city, for the change of the body comes from Christ at His coming. Even when poor and afflicted in this world, those whose hearts are washed in the blood of the Lamb can see in anticipation the joy that will be theirs in heaven, and in the great day of God all who are faithful and true will receive the healing touch of the divine Restorer. Believers look forward to the Lifegiver calling the dead from their graves, to meet loved ones again in immortal, glorious bodies, not in former mortal bodies.
Jesus' resurrection is the pattern for the resurrection of those who sleep in Him, and as the disciples recognized the risen Jesus by His familiar body, manner, and voice, the resurrected will retain individual identity and be recognized by those who love them. Those who sleep in Christ will rise with glorified bodies, and personal identity will remain so they will recognize loved ones. The resurrected saints and those alive at His coming will be caught up together to meet the Lord.
Character must be fitted and perfected during probation, for Christ's return will not be a time to purify or refine character but to give immortality to those already prepared, each fitted for a place in God's temple. Those who hold this hope must come up to a higher plane of action and work from a higher standpoint, cultivating the moral and intellectual powers, avoiding what suggests impure thoughts, and rising to that higher standard of life, or they will not be of the number who receive that change. This present life is only a training-school in which genuine conversion radically changes the heart, character, and every line of conduct, with no compromise with sin and no patchwork religion accepted, so that believers are purified to be without spot or wrinkle and prepared to receive the inheritance of the saints in light. The life of heaven begins in this world as believers live in purity and use sanctified powers in work appointed by God, powers that will be strengthened and used on a wider and nobler scale in the future life, with change of heart, putting away iniquity, drawing near to God and opening the doors of the heart to let the sunlight of heaven in, so that business and all conduct ennoble and show they are not of the world.
Heavenly Life on Earth
Profession of heavenly citizenship must agree with works, for conduct should make that citizenship evident to the world . A self-indulgent, ease-loving, selfish, earthly life misrepresents Christ, contradicts the claim to believe truth, denies professed heavenly citizenship, deceives the world and betrays the truth . Mere profession hinders souls, and those whose selfish works show they are dwellers on earth will find the day of judgment come upon them as a snare, for God sifts His people by testing purposes and motives . The hope of Christ's return calls for holy living after Jesus' meek, self-denying example, for seeking God's approval rather than outward adornment or the world's approval, and a worldly manner of life contradicts profession of waiting for Him . A heavenly profession must be matched by a life free from selfish ambition, pride and self-exaltation, with holy principles adopted, for conduct reveals whether the profession is genuine .
Conversation and thoughts directed toward heaven bring the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit, and meditation on heavenly things is profitable . Converse with God and contemplation of things above elevates and ennobles the spirit, gives vigor to Christian graces and duties, and transforms the soul into the likeness of Christ and the divine image . Affections set upon heaven turn from panting after earthly enjoyments, pleasure-seeking, vanity and folly, and reach out after God for pardon and peace, for righteousness and true holiness, crying for unmistakable assurance of God's love and a foundation for everlasting life built sure upon Christ . Keeping heart and thoughts on heavenly things makes words useful and refreshing, with power to transform and soften others . Daily loving God and loving truth for truth's sake, bringing truth into heart and mind, following Jesus wherever He leads, learning more of Jesus, talking much of His coming, and constantly receiving grace from above as oil of the grace of Christ nourishes experience day by day by the Holy Spirit, keeps lamps trimmed and burning brightly instead of flickering out, and makes ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb . Even a fallen person whose heart is purified by God's love and whose thoughts are elevated through Christ may through His merits become an heir of immortality with character ennobled by looking to Jesus and believing in Him .
This heavenly orientation is shown in sober, prayerful watchfulness and a life directed toward holiness, for merely professing Christ does not show it . Thoughts and conversation centered on heaven press toward what lies ahead rather than dwelling on past mistakes, and reject discontent, murmuring, complaint, quarrels and faultfinding, so that conduct on earth shows the principles of heaven . A minister's life and daily talk belong to heaven with God's grace in the heart and God's glory constantly in view, and his speech and conduct should avoid lightness, trifling and flattery and speak with grace, serious and gracious, especially in visiting house to house to learn spiritual condition and to counsel, exhort and reprove carefully and wisely while living near to God, since flattery gratifies vanity and perverts the mind from meekness and humility while reproof is more to be prized . Preparation for translation to the heavenly world keeps attention and conversation centered on heaven while looking to the Lord Jesus as the one from whom eternal life is expected, acknowledging Him as giver of every good and perfect gift and source of all blessings and hope .
Heavenly belonging means being God's purified peculiar people zealous of good works, giving up pride of dress and appearance and pride of opinion, refusing to dress or act like the world, being decided and wholehearted instead of half-hearted, standing with God's humble people as living devoted Christians, and shaking off every shackle to secure salvation and lead others by right example toward a rich and glorious reward . It requires coming out from the world and separating from all its contaminating influences, having no connection with idolatry in any of its forms, reaching a higher standard and being distinct in practice from sin and sinners, which is the condition for being received into the Lord's family as members of God's royal family and children of the heavenly King . Believers should not conform to the world in conduct or dress, should seek God's approval rather than focus on outward adornment or the world's approval, should refuse to dabble in politics, to choose company for amusement, and to be infatuated by childish things, wearing neat apparel that attracts no attention and creates no controversy, while remaining kind and courteous to unbelievers so as to lead others to truth . Waiting, watching, praying and working for the coming Saviour with mind, heart and strength purchased by His blood, hearts united with His heart, life inwrought with His life, clothed with His righteousness and holding the oil of grace, looks for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God .
As citizens of heaven and subjects of Christ's kingdom with Christ as Prince and head, educators, ministers and all who labor together with God have no battles to fight in the political world and carry the burden of a special work and special message inscribed as the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus . They must not link interests with any political party nor cast vote with them or for them, must not bind themselves to worldly political parties or interests, must not make enemies over political questions, must not engage in political strife, and must stand as a separate and peculiar people without schism possessing the elements of reconciliation, doing the work appointed by God and revealing personal responsibility before the heavenly universe, before angels and before men, instead of enlarging influence by mingling with society and linking up with men on political questions . Those who spend their time making political speeches are changing leaders and cannot claim the privilege of being subjects of the heavenly kingdom, for such activity reflects a change of allegiance and disgrace to divine citizenship, which requires standing under the true colors, identifying with Christ, and never failing to render to God the honor due Him . This heavenly citizenship calls for faith that works through love and purifies the soul, obedience to God, and a life representing Christ's character with joy in hope of an immortal inheritance as God's children and joint heirs with Christ .
Heavenly-minded life is shown by consecration to God and by conduct that leads others toward heaven, and it must not be compromised by joining with those opposed to the Lord . The expectation of Christ's coming calls for consecration and faithfulness to God even when following Him is painful, with sober, prayerful watchfulness toward holiness rather than mere profession . It is lived by bringing Christ into the home as an honored guest, talking of His love and goodness, letting Him appear in all that is said and done because His love is valued, with daily speech, words, manners and acts set in heaven while looking for the Saviour, bringing greater refinement and deeper, more constant spirituality through the sanctifying, purifying influence of His Spirit seen in words and acts in home life and church work . The hope of that higher life and its privileges should shape living and lead to preparing children and friends for heavenly citizenship, with faithful instruction in early years given steadily and without neglect helping them become good and useful members of society and fitting them for the kingdom of heaven .
Those who love God supremely and neighbor as self, whose prayers and giving rise as a memorial before God, who walk in all light received and live under His special watchcare, are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, carrying out the law of Christ's kingdom in this world while true citizenship remains in heaven as they wait for Jesus Christ to come as Saviour . Faithful service in everyday duties links workers with angels who serve God in heaven, for treating the humble round of duties as appointed by the Lord and doing every duty as unto the Lord with faithfulness like angels show in their higher sphere links workers on earth with holy beings who do God's will in heaven . Those who serve God faithfully become the best citizens of earth, because a correct view of duty to God gives clear perception of duty to fellow men . Having more of heaven does not unfit for life on earth but gives more enjoyment here, requiring drawing near to God, opening heart doors to heaven's sunlight, putting away iniquity and hating sin as hateful, a change of heart and purity of life so the world sees believers are not of the world, with business transactions and all conduct ennobling by God's converting power and truth to lead others to light . Daily duties performed in the fear of God form character and a life record able to pass the test of judgment, and citizens of heaven can be trusted anywhere, with blameless conduct marked by humility and Christ's character as a confession of Christ purified by truth .
Further points
Those who have become partakers of the divine nature hold citizenship in heaven. Their life is turned toward God rather than toward earthly things. Their conversation is shaped by the Spirit of Christ and bears the character of heaven.