According to the dictionary, an ambassador is "a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative." We see this title often portrayed by high-class brands or fancy tv show characters. They carry out their missions by branding themselves for the benefit of the society (hopefully) and aim to generate their positivity to the community its targeting. Ultimately, the ambassador's goal is not to replicate the people he or she is being sent to, but rather to uphold the values of the people sending the ambassador. It is all about representation.
Several years ago, as a new believer, I heard a message from my pastor, Rev. Abraham Chacko. It was an out-of-the-world concept, but it just clicked! It totally made sense to me and it even made a lot of the New Testament much more comprehensible. He was talking about Christ's followers being Ambassadors of Heaven. Ever since hearing this sermon, I was fascinated by this concept. More than a concept, it is our reality as Kingdom Kind. We are not of this world and the Bible ensures us this. We are Kingdom Kind and hence, we are to live as ambassadors during our time on Earth.
2nd Corinthians 5:20 states: "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."
When we think of the ways in which we are to represent Christ, are we true to our ambassador callings? When the going gets rough, are we still being refined or becoming bitter? I am constantly reminded of Job, the man that God had a great deal of a lot to say about to the Devil. It was God who told the enemy that Job was the most righteous guy! I mean, I felt like it definitely threw Job under the bus for no fault of his own. He had every right to be mad at God with all that he had to lose because of it (not really but at least my logic does not allow me to be mad at Job for complaining). Even still, Job held it together and did not give up. He was faithful in the midst of all his troubles until got his victory and life restored. However, what I see here is not that Job did something great and powerfully theological to undergo his troubles, He simply stayed still and silent. But what I find incredible here is that God had a great testimony about him. God knew that if anybody could withstand crushing torture and endure it, that it could only be Job. Everybody doubted him and pointed fingers and looked down on him, but God believed in Job (and Job's 42nd chapter is proof of how his story ends - very well)!
Recently, before Ravi Zacharias passed away, when people asked him what he would like to ask God when he gets to heaven, he replied that all he wanted was to hear what God had to say about him. He wanted to hear God tell him that he was a good and faithful servant. I am certain that this was the case for Dr. Ravi.
On the contrary, are we living on purpose for Jesus, with the recognition of our ambassadorship? Do we represent Him well? While we have our daily downfalls and slip-ups, are we still coming back to the heart of God and seeking repentance? David is known as the man after God's own heart - though he committed a bunch of despicable crimes. Yet he repented and reconciled with God, which made him righteous in God's eyes - because God is a kind and forgiving Father!
Honestly, when all is said and done, have our lives reflected the faithfulness we have towards God as He has been so gracious to us? Being out-of-this-world does not mean differentiating ourselves in the physical, but rather to be who God designed us to be. We were created to worship, to live righteously, and in holiness. Society has a way of separating Christianity and Secular and making everything what it does not seem to be. However, we need to remember as children of God, this is a temporary residence. We are ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Our time on Earth is temporary, yet when we know where we come from and whose we are, we will have a clearer concept of what our purpose is here on Earth. This week, remember that we are out of this world. We are ambassadors of Heaven. So let us be intentional in the ways we think, act, and speak.