Ambassadors

Ministry of Reconciliation

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV

I was wanting to visit Russia so I needed to obtain a visa. I walked over to the board where it lists the requirements to enter the country. Three photos, an HIV test, and a filled out application in duplicate, with copies of my passport! I was curious, what if i bring only 2 photos? How about only one application? Maybe skip the HIV exam? (never been a fan of Needles) Would I get in? I don’t think so! What if no one told me that I needed a visa, and I got on a plane and arrived... What would they do? They would send me back! No Visa - no Entry. Rules to get a visa... simple - you go to the Embassy - the local representation that actually belongs to the country you are traveling to, and follow the instructions. Since they are from that Country - they know how to help you get in!

This is what life is all about for those who follow Christ! We are hisAmbassadors! We live in his Embassy - the Church, his Kingdom on Earth!

I met the ambassador to the USA in Moscow - for Russia. Do you think he was proud of his Post? He was very proud! As great as the USA is - it does not compare to the Kingdom of Heaven that awaits us! How much more should we be proud to be His Ambassadors!

So with that in mind - why do I find myself being ashamed? Why do I feel like such a foreigner sometimes? Embassy’s don’t submit to the Laws of the country they exist in. They are like an island that submits to the laws of its country.

I think this is biggest challenge.

I think being surrounded by the Foreign country, you tend to forget you are a part of a Huge Nation! The Russian Embassy is very small compared to Russia. They speak Russian there, and there are photos of Russia on the wall, You can smell the Russian food there, but its not Russia! Its just not the same! Its immersed in a different nation, with a different language, and we can forget we are just foreigners!

Anyone without a “visa”- will be turned away on the last day! There are concrete instructions in God’s word, that if we obey in faith, God’s grace is applied to our lives, and we may enter into his country! God has chosen us - to carry this ministry to every soul who will make this journey at the end of their lives. Let’s have compassion on this lost world, and give them every chance to enter the promise land! Everyone will make this flight, everyone will go through this passport check point. May God use us powerfully, and may we, with great love and boldness, not be ashamed of the very words that saved our souls and carries the power to save others!

Shawn Wooten