Collins dictionary gives a clear definition of an ambassador as an important official who lives in a foreign country and represents his or her own country’s interests there.
When an individual gets born again, he or she changes allegiance from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. This means that one becomes an ambassador for God’s kingdom, thus representing the interests of heaven wherever he or she is while still on earth. Jesus assures us in John 14:1-3 that when our life here on earth is over, we have an eternal home prepared for us in heaven. This does not mean that we divorce ourselves from normal life responsibilities, but rather that we live our lives differently from those around us. In 1 Pet 2:11-12, the believers were advised as follows:
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
God’s plan is that His Kingdom and will be established in the world through His children who are His representatives. We see the Apostle Paul bringing this out clearly to the believers at Corinth in 2 Cor. 5:20-21
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Years ago I was afraid that God would ask me to minister in a foreign nation far from my country of birth! He gently corrected me with the reminder that home is heaven – meaning that I could transit there from anywhere!
With the ever changing seasons, times and technologies of our day, if God’s children do not watch out, it is very easy to be subtly sapped by the prevailing current. In order to avoid this possibility, we must stick to God’s word and His still small voice as our sure companions, roadmap and compass to show us the way through the world’s ever growing maze.
One person whose example we can emulate is David, who always inquired of the Lord’s mind on the matters he was faced with. We find one of these instances in 2 Sam. 2:1-2 when he was about to ascend to the throne and needed to know what step to take:
‘…It happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.” ‘
Prayer
Father, please help us always to remember that this world is not our eternal home, but that we are foreigners at best. We desire to seek Your mind at all times so that as Your ambassadors we may be on the cutting edge as we represent heaven’s interests wherever You assign us to in this world.