“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, KJV)
When I worked for a company headquartered in Zurich Switzerland, I would travel to the headquarters two or three times a year. Each visit would last a month or so. On one of my visits, I located an English-speaking church that I would attend on Sunday. After one of the worship services, I met our United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia. An ambassador is an authorized representative of one country to another. It is a very important position. The ambassador assigned to another country must maintain the highest standard of dignity that would reflect positively on the United States. One of the largest missions of the ambassador is to work towards peace between the United States and the country assigned.
In the previous verses, Paul wrote that we have been given the message of reconciliation (v19). The purpose of which is to present the way in which people may be reconciled to God. It is to take people from a place of enmity towards God to having one of peace with God. Here, he gives believers another title, that of ambassadors for Christ. Every believer is an emissary of heaven.
On this earth we are now aliens so to speak, strangers in a foreign land. This is because we are citizens of heaven. As such we are to stand out in the most positive way in an alien environment, which is this world’s system. Our conduct is seen by all who are outside the church. They watch to see what virtues we display in our lives. As emissaries of heaven, we must endeavor to display the virtues of our heavenly home. Displaying these virtues is essential as they qualify the authenticity of our message of reconciliation, that which will bring peace.
Our position as ambassadors is of the highest importance. The reason is that we represent the kingdom of heaven on earth. Let each of us who believe consider these things. Our mission is to glorify God in our lives and share the message of reconciliation with others who are at enmity with God. We are ambassadors and peace makers. Let us fulfill our assignment with the utmost dignity and diligence.
Renewing the Heart 