09-20-2026 Longing for Home

Text: Philippians 3:20-21

                For those familiar with the movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” we all know that Dorothy wanted desperately to get back home Kansas and all she had to do was click her heals and repeat ‘there’s no place like home.’  Even when we can’t wait to travel to some vacation destination, we all find in the end there’s still no place like home.  When we move away from our childhood home, it still brings back good feelings and many memories when we go back to visit or call on our memories of when we lived there.  Home is a place that brings warmth and blessings.

                But for Christians, this world isn’t our final home.  We have a place to look forward to when it come time to leave this life.  Our text this morning is from Philippians 3:20-21 where Paul wrote:          “ (20) For our citizenship is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; (21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” 

                What did this mean to the Philippians?  Well, Philippi was a Roman colony.  Roman citizenship was granted to all who were born there so the Philippians could rightfully say they were citizens of Rome.  But Christians who lived there could say they were citizens of Heaven just like Christians today can say the same regardless of where they live on this earth.

                Paul is telling Christians that we are to live our lives here on earth always looking toward our Heavenly home.  He begins by telling us in verse 20 that this world isn’t our home, Heaven is.  We aren’t citizens of earth trying to get to Heaven.  We’re citizens of Heaven making our way through this world.

                Every Christian represents Heaven while here on earth.  II Corinthians 5:20 tells us that we are to be good ambassadors of our King, Jesus.  This is important because others will judge Jesus by how we live our lives.  When our mothers gave birth to us, we became citizens of a nation of this world.  But when we are born again as  Christians, we immediately become citizens of Heaven.

                Citizens of a worldly nation are expected to promote interests and maintain the dignity of that nation.  In the same way, citizens of Heaven are to promote Heaven’s interests on earth and lead lives worthy of their Heavenly citizenship.  But sadly, too many Christians have failed to transfer their citizenship to Heaven.  They still see earthly pleasures and treasures instead of Heavenly ones.  Paul told the Philippians then and us today to remember that we are citizens of Heaven, where our Lord Jesus Christ lives.  We show our Heavenly citizenship by promoting the interests of Heaven and live following the example that Jesus set for us while He was here.

                When Paul wrote ‘from whence also we look for the Savior’ he’s reminding us that Jesus is our King.  John 3:13 tells us that Jesus came down from Heaven.  Jesus tells in John 14:1-3 that He is preparing places for us in Heaven.  And then in Acts 1:9-11 we learn how Jesus left this earth to return to Heaven.  So you see, as Christians we have a great investment in Heaven.  Our King is there, our citizenship is there, our loved ones who have gone before us are there, and as Peter tells us in I Peter 1:4, our inheritance is there.

                We learn in verse 21 of our text that when we leave this world, we will be given a new body.  This isn’t meant to imply that the human body is worthless.  It certainly serves its purpose for our human lives here on earth.  But when we go to our Heavenly home, we will receive a glorious body just like that of Jesus.  Those who struggle with pain, physical limitations, or disabilities take comfort in this  wonderful and certain promise.  Because of what is ahead for us, we should all be looking forward to that time and prepare for it. 

                I John 3:1-3 tells us that when we believe in Jesus a process begins that results in becoming more and more like Him each day.  This process continues until we see Him face to face.  We may not know exactly how we will be like Him but we do know that we will have eternal, resurrected bodies.  We will be free from sin and pain and we will have a greater understanding of God and spiritual things than we don’t know on earth.  Knowing our ultimate destiny motivates us to keep morally pure and free from the corruption of sin.  It also gives us hope as we struggle with sin because we know that one day we will be totally sinless just like Jseus.  When we become Christians, God purifies us.  But while we continue to live in a world of sin controlled by Satan, we must also take steps to remain pure.  Every time we resist a temptation or turn from sin, we become more like Jesus.

                Titus 2:13 tells us that we can anticipate three great benefits by looking forward to the time when we go to our Heavenly home.  First, we will experience being in the personal presence of Jesus.  We can only imagine what that will be like.  Second, we will no longer have to struggle against our sinful nature because that battle will be over forever.  And third, we will experience the new world in which we will live.  The complete rule of God’s grace will be realized in all the inhabitants of our final home and we will live as God intended when He created the Garden of Eden.  The miracle of our Heavenly home is a certainty because of the resurrection of Jesus after He was crucified.  It proves the power of our God and that He is in control of all things.

                It’s the good citizens of Heaven that impact earth’s citizens for Jesus.  Our God gave Jesus complete authority over Heaven and earth and based on that authority Jesus told His Disciple to make more Disciples.  Christians today have that same responsibility.  We are to tell others the good news of Jesus and help them to become citizens of Heaven.  Jesus was with His Disciples until He ascended into Heaven.  Today He is with all Christians spiritually through the Holy Spirit that enters us when we accept Jesus as Lord of our life. 

                Christians are the only ones that have the message that can save others.  We rely on the Holy Spirit to guide how we live and to give us the courage and wisdom to encourage others with the message of how Jesus can change their lives. 

                None of us know the day or the hour when we will be called to our Heavenly home.  It could be before this day is over or it could be months or even years from today.  But the time is coming for every person when their earthly life ends.  We can help those who don’t yet know Jesus to have the promise of eternal life in. 

                Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.