Chuck Larsen

We all have buttons. When those buttons are pushed, it’s like we’ve been turned on. We might sit quietly through a conversation, and then someone will bring up something that stirs us, and we are all of a sudden engaged in the conversation in a way we weren’t previously. It’s always a good idea to take time to examine ourselves and actually spend some time thinking about what those subjects are. Sometimes, the things that excite us the most need to be exposed to the light and reconsidered. Actually, exposed to the light is the root idea of “examine.” 2 Corinthians 13:5. Paul tells the Galatians, “But let each one examine his own work…” Galatians 6:4. He tells the Thessalonians, “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good…” 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

Some believers come to life when we discuss Genesis chapters 1 and 2 about the creation of the universe and man. It gets them excited. Others get excited about issues such as abortion, pornography, homeschooling, ecology, women’s rights, economic justice, racial justice, serving and caring for the poor, marriage and the family, and many other worthwhile subjects. Unfortunately, I’ve known Christians who focus all their energies on unworthy causes, such as certain styles of worship, particular expressions of faith, or even specific bible translations. There are worthwhile causes that fit the life instructions in the bible, and then there are what I believe are unworthy and divisive causes that bring down the church rather than building it up.

Particular causes that are true concerns of Christ can inspire us in our lives and focus our attention on what God wants us to do with our lives. Christians who have been inspired by these causes have changed the world; slavery was abolished, trade unions began, prisons transformed, child labor laws enforced, the sick healed, the poor fed, and the list could go on. But without exception, every one of those reformers had a central passion that made it more than just social reform. It was the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They lived it; they talked about it, they preached it, and they revealed it in every aspect of their lives. It doesn’t matter what you are: homemaker, doctor, lawyer, Indian chief! You might be a plumber, a chemist, a salesman, a ditch digger, or a chicken on the street corner advertising for a fast food restaurant! The Gospel should turn you on in how you live your life. Paul tells the Corinthians to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). He says something similar  with respect to self-examination two chapters earlier, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:28

When Jesus gave his followers the last commission at the end of the Book of Matthew, which is often referred to as the “Great Commission,” he began by saying, “All authority has been given to me.” He also said, “As the father has sent me, so I send you.” God sent Jesus to be the mediator, the representative who would reconcile sinful man to a holy God. His task was accomplished when he said, “It is finished,” before he died on the cross. We now have been given the task of being God’s spokesman for this wonderful message. Paul makes this perfectly clear in 2 Corinthians 5:20 when he says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God.”

Paul seems to be arguing that he is and that we are God’s ambassadors, and we are such during a time of war. There is a battle going on between God and mankind. Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” The only hope for mankind is reconciliation with God. Christ came, and Christ sent us to proclaim that reconciliation. The war is over! God is now at peace with us. He has presented us with His peace plan. It’s the plan in which God completely forgives our “iniquities” and our “sins” and offers a new and fresh relationship with Himself if we will just receive it.

Notice the emotion connected with the plea. It says, “We implore you.” This is a passionate plea. Now, you have to see that Paul is not calling us to reconcile ourselves. The passive voice of the verb must be translated as “be reconciled.” It’s to receive God’s offer, not to make a contrary offer. There’s no negotiation in God’s offer of peace with us. This is a passionate offer of peace because peace with God is the result of reconciliation. The atoning, substitutionary death of Christ brings reconciliation and peace with God. Beautifully, the promise of this peace was made long ago by the prophet who condemns us for our sins. Isaiah also says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” As Ambassadors, we must always show respect to all whom we address. As Ambassadors, we’ve been entrusted with the most wonderful message in the world. We must be faithful to this commission. When we share the good news of God’s reconciliation with man through Jesus Christ, we please God. Paul tells the Thessalonians, “For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive…we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God.” 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4

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