Pastor’s Corner: “We Are Messengers”
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (New Testament) (WE) – 20 So we are messengers (ambassadors) for Christ. God is using us to call people. So we are standing here for Christ and begging people, `Come back to God!’ 21 Christ did no wrong thing. But for our sake God put the blame for our wrong ways on Christ. So now God sees us as good, because we are in Christ.
According to Wikipedia, an ambassador is: The highest-ranking diplomat who represents a nation. This diplomat is usually stationed in a foreign country to advance the agendas of his home government. An ambassador is not a citizen of the country where he lives. His sole purpose in living there is to represent his home nation and advance its interests in the host country.
In this passage, Paul calls Christians ambassadors and messengers of Christ. This is a wonderful picture of the purpose of each Christ follower’s life. We, too, live in a place that is not our home. Our citizenship is in heaven. Heaven is our home nation and this world is the host country. Have you ever wondered why God prolongs calling us home to live with Him forever? This passage answers that question…it is because He has appointed His followers as His messengers on this earth. We are His representatives, through whom He accomplishes His plan and purposes.
And what is the main work of Christ’s ambassadors? It is to share the message of reconciliation. Christ was God’s first ambassador to earth. He came to reconcile mankind to our Creator because our rebellion made us His enemy. What does it mean to be reconciled to God? It means to be won over, or to be made right with God. Christ’s message was one of repentance and faith. And now, Christ has committed His ministry of reconciliation to us His followers. It’s just as if, Paul writes, God is making His appeal through us – Be reconciled to God!
But remember, we are messengers only by God’s grace. I read of an old worn violin that was being auctioned off at an estate sale. Before the final strike of the auctioneer’s gavel, selling the violin for a paltry $3, a gray-bearded man stepped forward. He cleared the dust, tuned the strings, and began to play “as sweet as the angel sings.” Mesmerized by the melody, the crowd cheered, and the old violin sold for thousands. But some in the crowd wept after hearing the master play, and they exclaimed that the change in the value was because of the “touch of the master’s hand.” It was never about the violin; it was always about the master.
In Revelation 19, John hears a roar from heaven shouting and praising God — “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God … For our Lord God Almighty reigns…” John is awestruck by the supernatural events occurring as the emotion builds like an ocean wave. Then, in the midst of the thunderous shouts and roars, the angel speaks and John falls at his feet to worship him. But the angel corrects him: “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you … Worship God!”
You are God’s Messenger because you have been touched by the Master’s hand. But remember, it is all about the master. It’s easy to become captivated by the talent of the messenger. Just as the angel reminded John not to be consumed by the supernatural events in Revelation, when we focus on the message God has for us rather than the messenger, we receive the full blessing He wants for us. Our master, Jesus, is the only one worthy of our worship. And we are privileged to be HIS MESSENGERS of the greatest and most beautiful message of all time – “Come back to God!’ 21 Christ did no wrong thing. But for our sake God put the blame for our wrong ways on Christ. So now God sees us as good, because we are in Christ.” God loves us and has made a way for us to be with Him forever!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton