Ambassadors

            Washington, D. C. Has a number of residences which have been classified as "embassies" of foreign governments. They fly the flag of their own country outside of the building and it is a theoretical extension of their country. They can pretty well do what they want in their own building without causing too much of a ruckus. After we arrived in Spain, one of things on our immediate agenda was to travel down to the United States Embassy located in Madrid. We took our passports and headed down to the area and after showing our passports, were allowed to enter this piece of "America" located in the middle of Madrid, Spain. I began to speak to the people there in broken, very broken, I might say, Spanish. The man to whom I was speaking, interrupted me and said, "You can speak English here." I had forgotten that I was theoretically in the United States even though we were 6 thousand miles away from Virginia. In each embassy, there is a person who has the title of being the "Ambassador" who represents the United States in a foreign country. That principle is seen in the New Testament as the Apostle Paul speaks of a special opportunity that has been bestowed upon each and every Christian. Second Corinthians 5:20 says, "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." 

           Paul says in this passage that we are "ambassadors." It is a special title that has been granted to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and with this title comes certain privileges and responsibilities. Paul further explained in Philippians that we are citizens of heaven and therefore, this is not our home as such. Our home is already in a different place from which we currently living while here on this earth. As one song writer put it, "this earth is not my home, we are just passing through..." Ambassadors are also ones who have a responsibility to represent their country in what they do and say to others. The word that is used in this passage also appears in the Book of Ephesians where Paul says he was an ambassador in chains. We find that to be an ambassador is usually a very special privilege and one that is granted by the president, king, or premier of a country. It is a very special privilege and the title here on this earth is one that specifies that we are a representative of our home government. The same is true here. You and I are representatives of our "home country" which is not the state in which we are currently living or the country where we now reside, but heaven itself and we are under the authority of our Lord and Master, our King and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. When you think about it, that is a very special honor but one that has been given to all of us who believe on Him as our Lord and Savior. It should provoke us to ask ourselves "how are we representing Christ today?" Praise God today for opportunity that He has given to us to represent Him in the world today.