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This is not theology and is by no means complete. It is merely a thought-provoking (and fun) illustration that I thought you might enjoy…

In days gone by, when a king or a sovereign of a country wanted to spread his authority and influence to a new territory, he sent his son as an ambassador (or he sent an ambassador) to represent his kingdom in a foreign land and set up a foreign mission office or embassy.

An ambassador is a citizen of a country and is chosen or appointed by the ruler of his country. He is sent to a foreign land to represent his ruler on an official mission to establish a base of operation for transacting business for the home government.

During his stay, he lives in the embassy, which is the site of all official business conducted for the government it represents. The embassy is a gated community, the ambassador’s safe haven from any enemies or intruders.

Unless invited, a citizen of the foreign land (as an enemy) may not enter the sealed off district without the consent of its ambassador, because the representative of the kingdom has control of the gate.

Therefore, to enter the front gate, a citizen of the foreign land must first get permission or be issued an invitation by the ambassador. The ambassador has been given the keys of authority to lock and unlock the gate.

The ambassador is sent to represent the traits, customs, and so on, of his ruler and his country. Where the embassy of the kingdom exists, the language of the kingdom is spoken. The ambassador’s speech then reflects on the king. The land of his birth can be distinguished the minute he opens his mouth. His accent and language are a give-away, for he is speaking the language of his kingdom, his homeland tongue.

While on this foreign mission as the ruler’s spokesman, the ambassador carries the authority of the word of the ruler of his country, upholding the commands and laws of the homeland. He is critical to the ruler’s efforts of establishing a forefront of the ruler’s presence in a foreign land.

Our personal application: The Father, the King of heaven, sent His Son as His Ambassador to extend His Kingdom on earth.

As the king appointed or chose those whom He desired to represent him to other nations, we have been appointed as well. As Jesus said to the disciples, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.” (John 15:16 NKJV)

We were all “aliens from the commonwealth” (Eph. 2:12 NKJV) until we became naturalized or citizens of the Kingdom. We are “fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,” (Eph. 2:19 NKJV) living as outposts in a foreign land, in the land of the enemy.

Our Sovereign Ruler has endowed us with the rights, freedoms, privileges, immunities, and duties of citizenship of the Kingdom. We also have the right to be protected by the Kings’ army to defend us from any enemy that would attack the embassy gate. But we are also expected to obey our duties as citizens.

Within the confines of our gated community, we are protected; it is our safe haven. We have control of the gate. We have the keys of the Kingdom.

We carry the authority of the Word of our Sovereign while we are on our mission for Him. We play a critical role in His efforts to expand His Kingdom to others.

As a citizen of God’s Kingdom, what we say reflects on our King. The words we speak will identify which kingdom we represent, letting everyone know our native Homeland. We are to exhibit the character of the One that sent us, reflecting graciously on the Sovereign of our Homeland.

As the law outside the compound of the embassy is the enemy’s territory, so we are to stay out of the world’s manner of doing things. The world’s system has no place in a believer’s life.

As we have been chosen and have accepted this responsibility, we carry on the mission of our Ruler amidst diverse and hostile natives. We represent our King as ambassadors to a world of foreigners.

We are to make known the dominion of our King, to give His perspectives on life, to show others what life is like in the Kingdom in which we live, and to recruit new citizens for the Kingdom.

As Jesus sent the disciples out into the world to spread the influence of the Kingdom, He has also sent us to do the same. Therefore, having been commissioned by God to do the business of the Kingdom, we are to go to foreign places to represent the Name and the work of the Sovereign One sending us...

“Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this-that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matt. 28:19-20 TLB)

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else.”(Matt. 6:33a NLT)

photo Life.com
If you’ve been following along, the last two posts (Room at the Top and Rebuild the Walls But Don’t Give the Enemy a Spare Room) have been running in a theme…keeping our hearts’ temples free of unwanted things and allowing them to be filled with God and His holiness. Here is the next in the series…

In ancient times, the shoulder was known as the burden bearer and became recognized as the symbol of authority and power. Therefore, keys placed upon a person’s shoulder indicated he had been appointed to a high position of responsibility in the king’s palace, granting him authority and free access over the king’s possessions.

In wearing the keys of authority, one received the privilege of opening and shutting the doors of the king’s house. The accountability of the keys consisted not only of the oversight of the royal chambers but also of deciding who was, or was not, to be allowed into the king’s presence and service.

Being entrusted with the keys, the doorkeeper was considered trustworthy and acted as a guard stationed at any entrance through which someone unwanted might enter, especially at night. He stood at the threshold, as a sentinel, allowing nothing of his master’s to leave the premises.

Doorkeepers, or porters, were sometimes referred to as gatekeepers or keepers of the threshold of the temple and…

*had charge of the sacred vessels,
*were responsible for collecting money from the people for temple purposes,
*guarded the gates of the house of Jehovah, opening and closing them at the proper times, and
*prevented the unclean from entering.

This honorable position also warranted a living chamber in the temple.

In the parable illustrating the end times and the duty to be watchful and faithful, scripture says, “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back.” (Mark 13:33-35a NIV)

In essence, he told the doorkeeper to keep guard at the gate, not letting anyone in that did not belong, such as strangers or enemies trying to gain entrance to rob the master’s house.

Do you see anything in all that?

When the owner of a house leaves for an extended period, he usually surrenders his house key into the care of someone who will look after the place while he is away. This is a picture of what Christ did for us after His resurrection. He left the affairs of the kingdom in the care and trust of us, His family and servants…

*entrusting us with the keys of authority to the kingdom,
*giving us stewardship control over the treasures of the kingdom,
*and charging us to protect the doorway to our hearts and preventing anything unclean to enter His temple.

Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Believe Me when I tell you that anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the door, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a rogue. It is the shepherd of the flock who goes in by the door. It is to him the door-keeper opens the door and it is his voice that the sheep recognise.” (John 10:1-3 Phillips)

How well do you guard the sacredness of your temple, the King’s palace within your heart? How well do you prevent the unclean from entering, the unwanted salesman soliciting your attention? Do you stand sentinel at your heart’s door, opening only at the voice of the Shepherd?

He’s coming back soon. “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” When He returns, will you hear…“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt. 25:21 NIV)

Are you a faithful and trustworthy doorkeeper?