Thirty Five years ago, I became a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Somehow, I missed the fact that I had been simultaneously appointed as an Ambassador to the UCW (Unsaved Citizens of the World). It seems to me that something as important as this would involve some kind of “swearing in” ceremony. You know – something involving an oath, a speech, maybe even a job description and a “how to” manual. As hard as I try, I can’t seem to recall this taking place.
This “Ambassador thing” has been on my mind lately. This past Sunday, we spent a good amount of time talking about it in The Truth Process class, then went upstairs and listened to Rick Stauffer preach a message on the very same topic! (Some of you have asked. The answer is “No”, I did not know that was to be the topic of the sermon.) It was a “divine ‘coincidence’”, and it got my attention.
Early this morning, I decided to have a chat with the Ruler of the Kingdom of God about this Ambassadorship. He goes by a number of different names, but I usually address Him as “Lord” or “Father”. I reasoned that I might as well go right to the top, since He is a Ruler who welcomes all of His subjects to come directly to Him. It is the ultimate “open door” policy.
“Lord”, I said, “it’s about this “Ambassador thing”.
“What about it, son?” (I love when He calls me that.)
I explained that I didn’t remember the swearing in ceremony, and in fact, I had no recall of having volunteered for the assignment.
“You didn’t”, He said. “When you became a citizen of the Kingdom of God, you were appointed as an Ambassador for the Kingdom. It is the duty of every citizen of my Kingdom.”
“Isn’t that why you appoint Pastors and Teachers? Isn’t it their job?”
His reply was gentle, but to the point. “Come now, John. It’s been 35 years. You know better than that. You have read my letters, and I have made this very clear that I have assigned to you the ministry of reconciliation.”
When I stop to think about it, I have probably read that letter at least a hundred times over the years and I had no good explanation for missing the clear intent and instruction.
Knowing my thoughts even before I become aware of them, the Lord looked directly at me and said, “What part of this do you not understand?” That’s when I began to run down the dead end street of rationalization. That’s when I said, “I understand, Lord, but…”
“It seems to me that you could take care of this in a heart beat, Father. You are omnipotent. Why don’t you just take over the UCW? Why do you need to send me as an Ambassador to these people?”
He shook His head slowly and smiled at me. “You seem to think that you know of a better way than my way. Need I remind you that you are not equipped to comprehend my thoughts?
I persisted. “I know Lord, but have you seen these people lately? They are stiff-necked and hard-hearted. They call evil good, and call good evil!”
“I am well aware of the condition of these people” He said, “and this is precisely why I have sent you as my Ambassador.” He then reminded me of what my perspective should be regarding the people of the UCW. “These people, though stiff-necked and hard-hearted, are made in my image, and they are more than flesh and blood. One of my children once wrote these words:
‘There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal’.
(The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis)
This is TRUTH, John. Every person I bring across your path is an eternal being. Those who are reconciled to me will be in Heaven, with me, for all of eternity. Those who are not will spend eternity in hell – a place of suffering beyond imagination.”
The silence hung heavily. Thoughts I didn’t want to acknowledge crossed my mind.
“Father, I have to confess – I don’t like these people very much. They are wretched, pitiful, poor in spirit, blind to the truth. They are so deluded. So lost! I can’t relate to them.”
“But you can relate to them’” the Lord replied, “if only you will remember what you were like before you were reconciled to me. Were you not wretched? Were you not pitiful? Were you not poor in spirit and blind to the truth?” He did not wait for my answer.
“And how was my message of reconciliation delivered to you? It was through my Ambassadors, Chuck and Nancy. They understood their ministry, and they helped you understand that I sent my beloved Son to die for you, paying the price for all your sins. And now, you should no longer live for yourself, but for him who died for you.”
“Enough talk, John. Are you ready to go out and be my Ambassador?”
To my own amazement, I heard myself say “Let me get back to you on that”, and I ended the conversation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“It seems to me that you could take care of this in a heart beat, Father. You are omnipotent. Why don’t you just take over the UCW? Why do you need to send me as an Ambassador to these people?”
He shook His head slowly and smiled at me. “You seem to think that you know of a better way than my way. Need I remind you that you are not equipped to comprehend my thoughts?
I persisted. “I know Lord, but have you seen these people lately? They are stiff-necked and hard-hearted. They call evil good, and call good evil!”
“I am well aware of the condition of these people” He said, “and this is precisely why I have sent you as my Ambassador.” He then reminded me of what my perspective should be regarding the people of the UCW. “These people, though stiff-necked and hard-hearted, are made in my image, and they are more than flesh and blood. One of my children once wrote these words:
‘There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal’.
(The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis)
This is TRUTH, John. Every person I bring across your path is an eternal being. Those who are reconciled to me will be in Heaven, with me, for all of eternity. Those who are not will spend eternity in hell – a place of suffering beyond imagination.”
The silence hung heavily. Thoughts I didn’t want to acknowledge crossed my mind.
“Father, I have to confess – I don’t like these people very much. They are wretched, pitiful, poor in spirit, blind to the truth. They are so deluded. So lost! I can’t relate to them.”
“But you can relate to them’” the Lord replied, “if only you will remember what you were like before you were reconciled to me. Were you not wretched? Were you not pitiful? Were you not poor in spirit and blind to the truth?” He did not wait for my answer.
“And how was my message of reconciliation delivered to you? It was through my Ambassadors, Chuck and Nancy. They understood their ministry, and they helped you understand that I sent my beloved Son to die for you, paying the price for all your sins. And now, you should no longer live for yourself, but for him who died for you.”
“Enough talk, John. Are you ready to go out and be my Ambassador?”
To my own amazement, I heard myself say “Let me get back to you on that”, and I ended the conversation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brothers and Sisters –
Obviously, this is not a transcript of an actual conversation with God. It is however, representative of what goes on in my heart and mind. Maybe you can relate...
It is an absurd notion to think that any of God’s redeemed people would, in light of the crystal clear call to the ministry of reconciliation, would actually say “I’ll get back to you on that.” As though we need to analyze God’s plan to be sure it’s the right plan of action!
Yet, for a variety of reasons, it happens quite often in the body of believers. I believe that one of the significant reasons is that we have a tendency to forget what we once were, and what God has done for us.
Joe Stowell (DAILY STRENGTH WITH JOE STOWELL) said it well:
Unfortunately, it seems that over time we grow accustomed to what we have been rescued from and what we really deserve. Without a continuing awareness of why grace is so necessary for us, we are lulled into forming an exaggerated perspective of our own worth before God.
True ongoing love for Jesus flows from a heart that is gripped by the awareness of how much we have been forgiven. When we grasp both the depth of our sin and the depth of God's grace in Jesus Christ, then we'll be looking for ways to… extravagantly express our love and gratitude to Him!
Until next week – Remember that you have never met a mere mortal, and that you are God’s ambassador to the immortal beings He brings into your life.
In Christ,
John
Soli Dei Gloria
Obviously, this is not a transcript of an actual conversation with God. It is however, representative of what goes on in my heart and mind. Maybe you can relate...
It is an absurd notion to think that any of God’s redeemed people would, in light of the crystal clear call to the ministry of reconciliation, would actually say “I’ll get back to you on that.” As though we need to analyze God’s plan to be sure it’s the right plan of action!
Yet, for a variety of reasons, it happens quite often in the body of believers. I believe that one of the significant reasons is that we have a tendency to forget what we once were, and what God has done for us.
Joe Stowell (DAILY STRENGTH WITH JOE STOWELL) said it well:
Unfortunately, it seems that over time we grow accustomed to what we have been rescued from and what we really deserve. Without a continuing awareness of why grace is so necessary for us, we are lulled into forming an exaggerated perspective of our own worth before God.
True ongoing love for Jesus flows from a heart that is gripped by the awareness of how much we have been forgiven. When we grasp both the depth of our sin and the depth of God's grace in Jesus Christ, then we'll be looking for ways to… extravagantly express our love and gratitude to Him!
Until next week – Remember that you have never met a mere mortal, and that you are God’s ambassador to the immortal beings He brings into your life.
In Christ,
John
Soli Dei Gloria
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