Most of us carry a little book that tells the world who we are and where we’re from: a passport. It says “United States,” “Puerto Rico,” “Samoa,” “France”… and so on. But Pastor Boucet reminded us this Sunday that there is another passport every believer carries—one you can’t tuck into a bag or present at a border.
This passport is stamped on your heart.
Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Even though we were born and raised in different nations, islands, and cultures, our true homeland is heaven. That is where we belong.
Our True Citizenship
Pastor Boucet talked about Philippi, a Roman colony. Even though the people there lived far from Rome, they still lived under Roman law, Roman values, and Roman culture.
It’s the same for us.
We might live in Puerto Rico, on the U.S. mainland, or somewhere else entirely—but our first identity is not Puerto Rican, American, Samoan, German, Chinese, or anything else. Our first identity is this:
I am a citizen of heaven.
That means:
- I may have an earthly address, but I have a heavenly home.
- I may carry an earthly passport, but heaven has stamped me with a new identity.
Pastor shared about his own family’s mix of cultures—Brooklyn, Puerto Rico, Samoa, China, Germany—and reminded us: it doesn’t matter where you come from if you know where you truly belong.
Living by Heaven’s Standards
Citizenship isn’t just a label; it comes with standards.
In Philippians 1:27 we’re told, “Live as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
Pastor used the picture of traffic standards—stoplights, rules of the road. We all know what that yellow light means: slow down and prepare to stop. But sometimes, instead, we speed up, glance in the mirror for police, and hope for the best.
Imagine a world with no traffic lights, no standards—just chaos.
In the same way, heaven has standards that keep us aligned with God’s heart:
- We don’t just follow the culture around us.
- We don’t live like the world, even though we live in the world.
- Our mindset, decisions, and values must reflect Christ.
Pastor put it this way:
- In a culture of fear, we walk in faith.
- In a culture of division, we walk in unity.
- In a culture of darkness, we shine with light.
We are citizens of heaven living on earth, and that means we choose heaven’s way, even when the world is doing something else.
Ambassadors of the King
Second Corinthians 5:20 says, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…”
We’re not just citizens—we are ambassadors. Everywhere we go—work, school, the grocery store, time with friends—we represent heaven’s King.
This is where the “double-standard” temptation shows up. With church friends, we talk about Jesus freely. With old friends or coworkers, we might feel embarrassed or tempted to blend in. Pastor described that tension:
“When I’m with my friends, I want to just ‘be me.’ But what does that even mean?”
If “being me” means hiding my faith, then I’ve forgotten who I truly am.
We’re not called to live two separate lives. We’re called to be the same person everywhere—an ambassador of Christ, no matter who’s watching.
Pastor also challenged us about judgment and compassion. He spoke about people who have been in prison or trapped in addiction—those the world might write off. But he reminded us:
- We don’t see what God sees inside a truly repentant heart.
- God’s compassion and justice are far greater than ours.
- The same grace that rescued us can rescue them.
Before we point a finger, we should remember: three fingers are pointing back at us. Instead of criticizing, we are called to pray and show mercy. That’s what citizens of heaven do.
Words, Attitudes, and Love that Reflect Heaven
It’s not just what we say, but how we say it.
Our words, our attitude, and our love should sound and look like heaven. You can tell a lot from a simple “Good morning”—whether it’s warm and kind, or cold and annoyed.
Body language preaches louder than sermons.
If heaven’s love is truly in our hearts, it will show up in:
- The tone of our voice
- Our facial expressions
- The way we treat people when we’re tired, stressed, or frustrated
Citizens of heaven don’t just talk about love; they carry it.
Living with Eternal Hope
Earth is not our final destination.
Pastor reminded us of Jesus’ words in John 14:2–3, where He promises to prepare a place for us. And Colossians 3:2 calls us to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
A Christian who knows their citizenship in heaven lives differently:
- Peace in trials — because God has a plan.
- Confidence in God’s timing — even when life feels uncertain.
- Expectation of Christ’s return — knowing Jesus really is coming back.
We make plans, dream about the future, think about grandchildren, trips, and events—but tomorrow is never guaranteed. Our greatest hope isn’t in what’s coming next on our calendar, but in Who is coming back for us.
So we live ready. Passport in hand. Heart prepared.
Transformed, Not Conformed
Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Pastor brought back an earlier illustration: a puzzle with a missing piece. A big missing piece is easy to see. A tiny missing one can feel impossible to find.
Jesus is that missing piece in our lives.
There are no shortcuts to the Father—no microwave version of spiritual growth, no quick button to holiness. Only Jesus.
“No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Once we have Him, we have everything we truly need. But we must allow Him to transform us, not let the world mold us back into its old patterns.
A Call to Renew Your Heavenly Passport
At the end of the message, Pastor opened the altar with a simple invitation:
- Do you want to renew your identity in Christ?
- Do you need to let go of earthly attachments that are pulling you away?
- Do you want to live as an ambassador of heaven, not just in theory but in daily life?
Citizens of heaven:
- Carry heaven’s passport in their hearts.
- Live by heaven’s standards.
- Represent heaven’s King everywhere they go.
- Walk in compassion, not judgment.
- Live with eyes fixed on their eternal home.
May we be those people.
May our lives say clearly, everywhere we go:
“I may live on earth, but I belong to heaven.”