As Christians, we possess a dual citizenship. We are citizens of the United States of America and citizens of heaven.  Our heavenly citizenship is dependent on our relationship to Jesus Christ. Our homeland is wherever Christ is since we are united to Him (Ephesians 2:6).  While our physical position is here on earth, our spiritual position is in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  As long as we maintain our earthly citizenship, we remain absent from the Lord.  Until that time, we are a colony of heaven living on earth.