Heaven Must Be In Me

I am very late joining “In Other Words” this week, which is a Tuesday meme, hosted this week at Shorty Bear’s Place blog. Visit her blog for more discussion on the quote below.





The quote for this week is this:

"Heaven must be in me, before I can be
in heaven."
~ Charles Stanford

What a profound and poetic quote! It immediately brings this verse to mind:

“For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20

The verses leading up to this one speak of walking according to a godly standard, rather than the pattern of this world. If my citizenship is in heaven, then I will not be at home in this world. Instead, my identity will be in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I will eagerly wait for Him to return to take me to my heavenly home. It will affect everything I am; everything I think; everything I do.

Like Charles Stanford I believe that I should walk every day on this earth with heaven in my heart, like a bride longing to take up residence with her bridegroom; otherwise I will be tempted to live as if I belong to this world.

Chapter eleven of Hebrews makes an even stronger case for heavenly-mindedness, relating it directly to faith. Following the long list of old testament believers who were recognized for their acts of faith, verses 13, 14, and 15 say this:

“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them, and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own....but as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

What a legacy these Old Testament believers left for our consideration! It is one that I desire, as well. When I die I hope that those who knew me well on this earth will say, “She never lived as if she was comfortable here. She was always seeking a better country, a heavenly one. Surely God was her God.”

Lord, I am a stranger and an exile in this world. Help me to love you wholly; to treasure the things that have eternal value; and to live each day as a citizen of heaven so that you will never be ashamed to be called my God.

(all scriptures quoted are from the NASV Bible)