"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." II Corinthians 5:20.
An ambassador is a very high official, representing his country or his king in a foreign land. As ambassadors of Jesus Christ, we live in a foreign and enemy country. Our homeland is heaven. "For our conversation (in the original, citizenship.) is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20. Again we read, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." Colossians 1:13. Therefore as ambassadors our allegiance is, first and foremost, to our king, Jesus Christ.
There is a story told about Lattimer, who was brought to trial before the king of England. The day before, a friend came up to him, as he was walking in his garden and warned him with these words, "Lattimer! Lattimer! Tommorrow, you will stand before the king. Be careful what you say, that you do not displease him!" The great man did not turn around, and his friend heard him speaking to himself as he walked, "Lattimer! Lattimer! Tomorrow you will stand before the King of Kings. Be careful what you say, that you do not displease Him." So Lattimer was brought before the king of England, but he spoke to please the King of Kings, and for that he lost his life.
Christians should, above all, be patriotic. They should love their country and their king. They should always try to bring glory to their king.
In our position as ambassadors for Christ, we are personal representatives of our King. As such, it is necessary that we have learned from Him. He said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." Christ's ambassador must learn to be like his; King and to know that it is no disgrace for the truly high, to be humble and lowly.
My father told of a famous senator of his state of North Carolina, during his boyhood days, who was out riding with some gentlemen. A little black boy by the side of the road, recognizing the senator, doffed his hat, and bowed to greet him. In return, the senator tipped his hat, and bowed to the boy. The men that were with him, were astonished and said, "Why do you tip your hat and bow to a little black boy?" The great man replied, "I'd hate for a little black boy to be more polite than I am."
It was the greatest glory of Jesus Christ, to be humble. In Philippians 2:8, Paul tells us that Jesus "humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." In John 17:1, Jesus prayed, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy son that thy son may glorify thee." Some people think this prayer was unanswered because it is followed by His shameful death on the Cross. They don't understand the mind of God. The greatest glory of Jesus Christ, for all eternity on earth and in heaven, is His magnificent humility, as He gave Himself, the sacrifice for sinful man, to die upon the cross of Calvary. The prayers of Jesus were always answered.
The ambassador for Christ has a high and exalted position before God. A missionary in a foreign country, was offered a high paying job with a large company, but to their surprise, he refused it. He said, "I cannot afford to step down from being an ambassador, to being just a company employee."
As an ambassador, our first credentials are given in Romans 1:1, where Paul introduces himself as "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ." The Greek word for servant means one who is bought and paid for, a slave. Paul was bought and paid for, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. In 1 Corinthians 6:19,20, he says, "Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
In Revelation 5:9, we read, "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation."
The chorus of a favorite song of mine goes like this:
"Holy, Holy, Holy, is what the angels sing, and I expect to help them make the courts of heaven ring. But when I sing salvation's story, they will fold their wings, for angels never felt the joy, that our salvation brings". True, it is only the redeemed, the blood bought, those who have experienced the joy of salvation, who are able to be ambassadors for Christ.
Our message, says Paul, is: "BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD." Lost mankind is in rebellion against God, joined with the devil in his plan to dethrone God. It is true that God has been dethroned in our nation today; dethroned in society; dethroned in our schools; in our homes; and in our system of education. But He still rules in heaven, and His day of vengeance will surely come. However, in His love for lost mankind, God sent His Son to die on the cross of Calvary; The Eternal One suffering an eternity of Hell, for you and me. He finished His work; came forth from the grave; and entered the holy of holies in heaven, to intercede for those who come to God by faith in Him.
Our message, then, is Come and surrender, make peace with God through the Peace Maker, Jesus Christ. It is hard, ever so hard, to fight against God. Won't you come and be reconciled, get right with God right now?
When I was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines in 1942, many other foreigners fled into the mountains and hid out. One by one, they were captured, and brought into the internment camp. At last, the Japanese sent the word out, that all Allied persons must come and surrender by a certain date; after that time, if captured, they would be killed.
God has given you a space of time in which to repent. That time is fast running out, but if you wait too long, it will be too late. You must come and surrender to Jesus now.
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