2 Corinthians 5:20 – We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
I read this verse a while back and it stood out to me. What really caught my eye was the word ambassador. Unless you follow politics, or movies about politics, you probably don’t really know much about what an ambassador does. As I did some research I was surprised to find out that not only do nations have ambassadors but companies hire “brand ambassadors” as well. It was interesting to read how the two positions were described. First a U.S. ambassador “represent the President of the United States in an official capacity in foreign nations and communities. They are charged with protecting and promoting national interests…” A brand ambassador, “is a person who is hired by an organization or company to represent a brand in a positive light and by doing so help to increase brand awareness and sales.”
When I look at those two explanations of an ambassador it helps bring to light what our job as Christians is! We are to represent Jesus Christ! When we define represent it means to “act or speak for someone.” As a Christian we are to speak and do things for Jesus! Things that promote him, things that show Him in a positive light and increase the awareness and acceptance of Him! Think back over the past twenty four hours, what have you done or said that promotes Jesus in a positive light and increases others awareness and acceptance of Him? Hard to come up with something? How about the last week, or even month?
Are the things we do and say, our life, proof that we are an ambassador for Christ? That is our job/responsibility as Christians! We are to represent Jesus to the people we come into contact with and the people that see us and our behavior!
Jesus is no longer walking the Earth. It is now our job to make Him known to people who do not know Him. The above verse says “as though God were making His appeal through us.” We are other peoples chance to know who Jesus is and what He did. We can do that by both our words in sharing it with others and through our actions. Matthew 5:16 says “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” It is time for Christians to step up and live that verse!
Not long ago the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, more or less told nations throughout the world that they were either with us or against us when it came to Israel. As Christians it is important that we share that same truth with other people regarding our Lord and Savior. Romans 5:10 tell us that before we are saved “we were God’s enemies.” I don’t think people really grasp that verse! God is Love and loves everyone! He proved that by sending His son Jesus to die for our sins! When someone does not accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior they are an enemy of God. When they die they will be treated as an enemy of God and face judgement and eternal separation from Jesus Christ. Let’s not sugar coat it or think God won’t follow through with what he says in scripture!
Because of this truth, we as Ambassadors of Christ must implore (request, want for) the lost to be reconciled to God. All mankind was separated from God when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. The only way to be reconciled with God is through the gift of salvation offered to us by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Our job as ambassadors is to make this truth known!