This is not any theology and is by no means complete. It is merely a thought-provoking illustration that I thought you might enjoy…
In days gone by, a king sent his son to represent his kingdom in a foreign land. When a king or a sovereign of a country wanted to spread his authority and influence to a new territory, he sent his son or an ambassador to set up a foreign mission office or embassy.
The reputation of the king reflected on his subjects and vise versa. The king appoints or chooses those whom He desires to represent him to other nations. 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)
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, he 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.
Ambassadors cannot be detained or arrested, or, in other words, the law outside the compound of the embassy has no jurisdiction over the ambassador. He has diplomatic immunity, but while in the foreign land, ambassadors are obliged to refrain from meddling in the host country’s internal affairs.
Our personal application: We were all “aliens from the commonwealth” until we became “naturalized,” or citizens of the Kingdom. We are not illegal immigrants. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you].” (Luke 17:21 Amp)
This is our embassy here on earth, in our hearts, for we are “fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,” living as outposts in a foreign land, in the land of the enemy. (Eph. 2:19 NKJV)
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.
Our King is responsible for our upkeep, providing for us and protecting us. You are God’s ambassador, sent on a mission to take care of His business; He is responsible for taking care of you.
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.
The law outside the compound of the embassy is the enemy’s territory, and we are to stay out of the world’s manner of doing things, not indulging in its affairs or activities. The world’s system has no place in a believer’s life.
Only the law within the gates of the Kingdom reigns over the citizen of that Kingdom. In essence, we cannot serve two governments, two authorities…either the government of heaven or the government of the opposition.
As we have been chosen and have accepted the 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.
Jesus said, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (Matt. 6:26 Amp) 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.
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 into the Kingdom.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” (Rom. 14:17-18 NIV)
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