Representing Your True Country

"Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him." - 1 Peter 3:22 (NKJV)

There's a story about one of our presidents who would bring in future ambassadors to certain countries. He would go over to a globe and ask, "Now, where is your country?" That ambassador sometimes would point out the country he was being sent to. Each time, the president would spin the globe back around, put his finger on the United States, and say, "No, this is your country. You're being placed there on assignment, but this is your country."

Don't forget, this is your country. You're being placed there on assignment, but this is your country. In Philippians 3:20, Paul says, "For our citizenship is in heaven." Don't forget that your citizenship is in heaven. In Philippians 1:27, he says, "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ." And that word "conduct" is the word from which we get "citizen". He's saying, and the New Living Translation says it this way, "Conduct yourselves as citizens of heaven." You may live here on this earth, but as Jesus would say, "You are in this world, but you're not of this world" (See John 17:16).

So where is your country? Is it where you're living physically? No. Your homeland is up in heaven. Your allegiance is to Jesus Christ, Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

What's our purpose here? An ambassador has a mission and has been given an assignment from their home country. God has also sent us into this world to be ambassadors for Him.

2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God."

We share a mission. While not everyone may understand, appreciate, or grasp our Christian beliefs, we are sent from heaven as ambassadors for Jesus Christ to faithfully represent Him to a watching world.

Some of us gave our lives to Jesus many years ago. We need to live our lives in such a way that our allegiance is clear and we're not ashamed of Him. We've stopped living for ourselves with ourselves on the throne, and we've said, "Jesus, You are on the throne of my life. I want to live for You."

Never forget Whose side you're on. Don't be ashamed of Him. Remember your public allegiance and remember that Jesus Christ leads the winning team.

Reflection Question: How does viewing yourself as an ambassador from heaven, representing Jesus, change the way you interact with people who don't share your faith or understand your Christian convictions?

Dear heavenly Father, help me remember that I am a citizen of heaven, placed here on assignment as Your ambassador. My true country is with You, where Jesus sits at Your right hand with all angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. When I feel pressure to conform to this world's values or hide my faith, remind me of my true identity and mission. Give me wisdom to represent You well and courage to never be ashamed of You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Adapted from "Whose Side Are You On?": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/gz6wj94/18-whose-side-are-you-on-1-peter-3-18-22