Thursday, July 11, 2013

Citizens of One Kingdom

Heaven will not be segregated by denomination, geographic location, different doctrinal viewpoints or any other issue or group we have on Earth. When Eternity comes there will only be Heaven and Hell.

Spurgeon wrote: What is meant by our being citizens in heaven? It means that we are under heaven's government. Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The proclamations issued from the throne of glory are freely received by us: the decrees of the Great King we cheerfully obey. Then as citizens of the New Jerusalem, we share heaven's honours. The glory which belongs to beatified saints belongs to us, for we are already sons of God, already princes of the blood imperial; already we wear the spotless robe of Jesus' righteousness; already we have angels for our servitors, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward. We share the honours of citizenship, for we have come to the general assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven. As citizens, we have common rights to all the property of heaven. Ours are its gates of pearl and walls of chrysolite; ours the azure light of the city that needs no candle nor light of the sun; ours the river of the water of life, and the twelve manner of fruits which grow on the trees planted on the banks thereof; there is nought in heaven that belongeth not to us. "Things present, or things to come," all are ours. Also as citizens of heaven we enjoy its delights. Do they there rejoice over sinners that repent--prodigals that have returned? So do we. Do they chant the glories of triumphant grace? We do the same. Do they cast their crowns at Jesus' feet? Such honours as we have we cast there too. Are they charmed with His smile? It is not less sweet to us who dwell below. Do they look forward, waiting for His second advent? We also look and long for His appearing. If, then, we are thus citizens of heaven, let our walk and actions be consistent with our high dignity. From C.H. Spurgeon's, "Fellow citizens with the saints."

 As we contemplate this wise words let us ask ourselves, "Do we view our brethren as fellow citizens of the Kingdom of Christ?' Jesus spoke much about the way fellow believers should conduct themselves with one another. These admonishments were not meant just for the believers that lived in their local community, but Christians that lived in the entire community of Christ. Heaven will not be segregated by denomination, location, different doctrinal viewpoints or any other issue or click we have on Earth. When Eternity comes there will only be Heaven and Hell.
We need to remember that as we not only interact with one another but with the lost as well. Many will spend forever and forever in the lake that burns with eternal torment and flame. Our primary duty is to share the gospel with the lost, not gouge out the eyes of our brethren.  

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