Patrick O’Brian (1914–2000) is a celebrated author of historic novels. In 1969 he published Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, a novel (later turned into a successful film) about naval warfare during the Napoleonic War. One reason for this book’s popularity is O’Brian’s careful attention to Navy lore and natural history with penetrating insights into human nature.

In one scene Captain ‘Lucky Jack’ Aubrey prepares his crew for battle. He tells them: “England is under threat of invasion, and though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home. This ship is England.”

Captain Aubrey’s view of citizenship is based on loyalty, not location. And this conviction clearly illustrates a biblical principle. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, a Roman colony: “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).

It is important for us to be reminded that though we are living on this side of heaven for now, our eternal home is the place where our loyalty should lie. We need to “set [our] mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2).

Author

Dennis Fisher

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