Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Philippians 1:27a

Can you remember when you were 13 years old?  Do you wish you could forget?

There are times in our lives when we feel like we just don’t fit in–like maybe when you were 13 years old. The fact of the matter is this: If you’re a follower of Jesus of any age, you may often feel like you don’t quite belong in the world you’re living in. At times, it feels like we’re living in the children’s book titled The Topsy Turvey Kingdom. In this kingdom, hot is cold, up is down and night is no different than day.  It’s a place of pain because “where lies became truth and right became wrong, then someone was bound to get hurt.”[1]

When this Topsy Turvey world overwhelms us with its meanness, let’s remember, we’re not home. Like the old gospel song said, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through.” The Kingdom we are citizens of isn’t here, but in heaven. Philippians reminds us to, “Live as citizens of heaven… conducting [ourselves] in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (Ephesians 1:27a).

If I’m traveling in a country that’s foreign to me, there are often things I don’t like.  But I’m representing my homeland, so I’m careful to be gracious. Jesus follower, we are still here because we’re to be what’s called, “the sweet aroma of Christ” among those who are perishing. We have an important mission.  Scripture explains: “He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume” (2 Corinthians 2:14b).

Let’s be sure our lives smell fabulous today.

[1] McDowell, Dottie, et al. The Topsy Turvey Kingdom. Tyndale Kids, 1996.