Rank
Both definitions term an ambassador “a diplomatic official of the highest rank.” The apostle John makes plain that every Christian is a child of God (1 Jn. 3:1), and Paul points out that all Christians enjoy the dignity of sons of God (Gal. 3:26; 4:6). Thus, as we represent God we represent our Father. Regardless of where we were born or where we live, our citizenship is intrinsically a heavenly one, as Philippians 3:20 assures us: “Our citizenship is in heaven.” The Lord Jesus has “washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father” (Rev. 1:5-6). We have thus been given a rank higher than that of angels, who, mighty in power as they are, are only “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14).

Representation
The people of the world little understand the Christian’s dignity as God’s representative. They stoned Stephen (Acts 7:59), beheaded James (Acts 12:2), and from earliest days right down to the present, have mistreated many other ambassadors for Christ. Paul, imprisoned at Rome, called himself an “ambassador in chains” (Eph. 6:20). Incidentally, while under Roman law he was a prisoner who was a Roman citizen – and as such had appealed to the Emperor – in writing to his fellow Christians he calls himself “the prisoner of the Lord” (Eph. 4:1). We learn from this that it is not wrong to carry passports as we travel, or to avail ourselves of other prerogatives associated with the laws of nations in which we find ourselves.

Every ambassador represents his sovereign or his country wherever he is sent. He may be its resident representative or be sent on a temporary mission. Christ’s ambassadors are actually both: they live in a world increasingly hostile to Christianity, and their prime mission is to reconcile people to God. Their task is not to improve the world, nor to mingle in its politics. How incongruous it would be for an ambassador for Christ to engage in the politics of the place to which he was posted! After all, this world, Jew and Gentile alike, united to crucify His Sovereign 2000 years ago and would do the same today if given the opportunity.

In representing His sovereign and the nation that has sent him, the ambassador may seem out of place where he is, and may well be unpopular. He should certainly take care not to do wrong, not to break laws and not to give offense. But the fads and fashions of the place to which he is sent matter little to him. His entire deportment should reflect the place he is from, and earn respect for his Sovereign.

Training
How can we Christians become true ambassadors for Christ? When the Lord called out His disciples in Mark 3:13-15, it was first of all, “that they might be with Him,” then, “that he might send them out.” To become good ambassadors we must spend time with our Lord, and get to know Him well. We must get well acquainted with His thinking, His will and His ways as found in His Word, the Bible. We have the tremendous advantage of having the love of God poured out in our hearts by His personal representative, the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). He indwells us to guide us into a full understanding of God’s Word and to direct us in all our activities and conduct. We must willingly go where He sends us, say what He bids us to say, and count on Him for the words we need when put on the spot (Mt. 10:16-20). But we also must be ready to be misunderstood and ill-treated, as David’s servants were in 2 Samuel 10:1-5.

We must stay in close touch with our Lord through prayer, which is better than any cell phone or internet server man can ever make. We should cultivate the habit of praising and worshiping Him personally and together with other Christians. As we exercise our holy priesthood, it will be natural, too, to proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us from darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:5,9). We should delight in Him and in His will, and never apologize for either. We should make use of every opportunity, and not get discouraged if we don’t see the results we would like. Remember, as ambassadors we are simply called to be faithful. That is true success in the eyes of our Lord.

Mission
Our mission is only temporary. As ambassadors, we can be recalled to our Sovereign’s presence at any moment. And when His longsuffering with those who still reject Him is over, He Himself will come back. Then the message, “Be reconciled to God,” will no longer be proclaimed. It will be too late. So we should avail ourselves today of the high privilege we have to serve Him as His ambassadors to this lost world.

By Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.