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Morning and Evening

July 10, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Fellow citizens with the saints." — Ephesians 2:19 · KJV

What is meant by our being citizens of 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 we freely receive; the decrees of the great King we cheerfully obey. Then, as citizens of the New Jerusalem, we share heaven's honors. The glory that belongs to glorified 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 attendants, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward. We share the honors of citizenship, for we have come to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn, 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 jasper; ours the azure light of the city that needs neither candle nor light of the sun; ours the river of the water of life, and the twelve kinds of fruit that grow on the trees planted on its banks; there is nothing in heaven that does not belong to us. "Things present, or things to come" — all are ours. As citizens of heaven, too, 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 honors 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.