Did you ever realize as Christians that we are image bearers of God and His ambassadors for Christ. And as ambassadors we are entrusted by God to represent Him here on earth. What an awesome responsibility and privilege for God to think so highly of us that He would allow us to be reflectors of His glory here on planet earth. I love how Pastor John MacArthur puts it: “God sends His people forth as ambassadors into a fallen, lost world, bearing amazing good news.”1
While ambassadors from different countries represent their citizens, they don’t always have good news to share about their country. For example, an ambassador from Iran or Russia represent oppressive regimes where its citizens don’t have much freedom. And even ambassadors from free countries like the USA offer freedom of speech, but sadly, these freedoms offer a false sense of freedom and security. For you see only when you know Christ are you truly free to experience joy, peace, and rich meaning, no matter which country you live in.
As ambassadors for Christ, we indeed have great news to share because we represent the One who can free us from the bondage to sin, help us to experience peace and joy, and lead us to having eternal life. And in addition to reflecting God’s glory as His ambassadors for Christ our job is to share that all non-believers can be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20) shares this important aspect of being an ambassador: “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.”
While being an ambassador for Christ is a very high calling we need to realize that sometimes the only Bible people are going to read is by studying our lives. Thus, our Christian witness is paramount to being a good ambassador for the Lord. Martyn-Lloyd Jones stated this important aspect well when he said: “An ambassador from any country is always conscious of the fact that he has a tremendous responsibility because he is the representative by whom his country is going to be judged. And to us is given the privilege and responsibility of being the representatives of the Son of God in this world. We stand for him, people judge him by what they see in us, and they are perfectly entitled to do so because we are the ones through whom and in whom he is glorified. Do we, I wonder, always realize this?”2
Representing Jesus to a lost and fallen world is truly a heavy responsibility but praise God we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to assist us in the task. My prayer for all Christians is to let the Holy Spirit guide us and help us to lead exemplary lives for the Savior. In this way we truly will be the salt of the earth and a light to the lost!
1 Inspirational Quotes by John MacArthur – page 36 (bibleportal.com)