Most of us have a passport. That means we are representatives of the country who issued this passport to us – that is the country we legally belong to. For Christians, the place we ultimately belong is heaven and not an earthly country (1 Peter 2:9-10
). You have an impressive citizenship, and are even chosen to be royalty!
If this is true, it means as we live in our earthly countries and cultures, we need to be good representatives of heaven. Christians are described as “travellers and exiles” on this earth (1 Peter 2:11). When people see you, you might be the only Christian they know – their impression of you might be their impression of Jesus and of heaven. We need to be a good example before those we work with and live near. Who know? Maybe our influence will help lead them towards also following Jesus (1 Peter 2:12).
This also means we need to submit to the government and justice system of our society, for they are put there by God (Romans 13). Unless they tell us to do something God does not approve, we need to be obedient and good examples to others. This includes paying our taxes and obeying the road rules! Christians should be excellent citizens of the country they live in as they wait for their real passport to be stamped in heaven.
(Based on ANPC Sunday teaching, 9 May 2010 
).