Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
Disturbing news accounts from Tehran told of angry Iranians attacking and ransacking the British embassy, apparently with the sanction of the Iranian authorities, who made no move to stop the crime until most of the damage was done. This outrageous behaviour prompted objections and complaints, not just from Britain, but from throughout the civilized world. Embassies, and the ambassadors who are in charge of them, are required by all nations to be protected and respected. But Iran, run by a demented toady of radical islamist clerics, failed on that occasion to provide the necessary protection. The world we live in today offers no more respect for God’s ambassadors. But Paul reminds us that we are all still to carry out the office of ambassador.
There are several aspects of earth’s ambassadors that apply well to God’s ambassadors. For one thing, we are citizens of a different country from the one in which we live. This places some limitations on us. Like earth’s ambassadors, we are not to become entangled in the affairs of this world. Also, like earth’s ambassadors, we do not live according to our own desires and interests but according to the desires and interests of our home government. No ambassador is ever to place himself above the country from which he is sent. As Christians, our allegiance is primarily to Christ. And our task is to ably represent Him in the place where He has placed us.
An ambassador is responsible for promoting his own country’s interests in the country where he is placed. To be given the position of ambassador is a high honour. Any Canadian would consider it a very high honour to be appointed as an ambassador to most of the countries of the world. The honour comes, not from the country to which they are going, but from the country from which they are being sent. But no Canadian ambassador has been as highly honoured as the humblest Christian. The Lord Jesus has made us His personal representatives. He has much business to conduct in this world, and He relies on us to represent Him in this business.
Sometimes, an ambassador can say things or be involved in matters that are an embarrassment to his home country. As Christians, this is a concern for us as well. When those around us know that we are Christians, they expect us to act accordingly. If we fail to do so, it reflects badly on our Lord. We become a poor testimony and are a hindrance to the business that the Lord Jesus wants to conduct.
As ambassadors, we should strive for the furtherance of the Gospel, the edification of the Lord’s people, and the honour of our Saviour’s Name. -Jim MacIntosh