It’s interesting that the US Embassies overseas are often called “Missions.” A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one country who have set up permanent residence in another country as representatives of the sending country. The diplomatic mission offices are called “Embassies.” the person in charge of the mission is called the “Ambassador.” The United States has Embassies in many countries. They are all “missions.”
Paul’s description of the “mission” that God has given us is a mission of peace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” As God made peace with man through Jesus’ mission in the world, we are on a mission of sharing that peace with those who are still alienated from God. Paul writes, “And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). The Christian mission and our Ambassadorship are focused on effecting a reconciliation between man and God. Some would argue that this mission is to also effect reconciliation wherever and whenever there is brokenness or division. But foremost, it’s God’s offer of a complete pardon to those who have turned away from Him and gone their own way. It’s a call for them to come home.
As Ambassadors, we’re not called to go from door to door or to stand on the street corner with “repent” signs. Evangelism is not another scheduled event to add to our calendar every week. It’s not something else “to do.” It’s supposed to be something “we are.” Vance Havner, an old Baptist pastor, preached at Moody Bible Institute’s Founder’s Week back in 1974. He said, “Evangelism is to Christianity what veins are to our bodies. You can cut Christianity anywhere, and it’ll bleed evangelism. Evangelism is vascular. It’s our business. Talk about majoring in evangelism. You might as well talk about a doctor majoring in healing. That’s our business.” Our business is to point the way to reconciliation and peace with God. Surgeons have an awesome responsibility. At the end of the scalpel may rest life or death for the patient. When a lawyer faces the jury, one mistake can distinguish between conviction and acquittal. But each Christian, as Ambassadors for Christ, holds the greatest mission. It’s the mission in which he offers the greatest pardon ever: the pardon for their sins through faith in Jesus Christ. The pardon, the reconciliation, will last through all eternity. Paul says, “We have been given the wonderful mission of reconciliation…we plead…come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20