Evacuate an Embassy

   No-one ever said that being an Ambassador was going to be easy. Living in a foreign land, surrounded by an alien culture and a semi-hostile- or at the very least, semi-suspicious- people. 
   That is why, in international relations, Ambassadors and Embassies are regarded as sacrosanct. Nations may well despise their enemies, and even their allies, but they must treat foreign representatives with all honour and pomp.
   That is also why the  events of yesterday (Tuesday 29th November 2011) have caused such a stir across the UN and EU. Any situation which causes the USA, Germany, France, Russia, the UK and the UN Security Council to agree must be serious indeed.
   A few days ago the UK, along with Canada and America, imposed new sanctions on Iran. The Iranian Parliament responded with a vote to downgrade diplomatic relations with Britain. Yesterday, coinciding with the anniversary of the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist (blamed on Britain), a mob of Iranian students stormed the British Embassy compound (known as one of the strongest ‘fortresses’ in Tehran). Offices were ransacked, papers burnt and general chaos ensued. Thankfully all the staff have been accounted for and, as we speak, many are being evacuated.
   Step back and consider for a moment.
   Christians are all Ambassadors in an alien land. We are men (and women) on a mission of utmost importance.

    “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

   Moses, Noah, Enoch and many others all lived as strangers and exiles on the earth. They knew that they were foreigners, waiting for the call home.
   However, our mission, our message, is going to cause much more havoc and disturbance than sanctions on Iranian banks ever could. Jesus said:

    “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

     The message of the Gospel is one which causes divisions and anger: All have sinned, all are condemned by “international” law, all will receive the judgement they deserve; but God sent his son to die for the sins of his people, through faith in Jesus Christ and repentance comes eternal life. Before one can realise the wonder of God’s grace they must first be faced with, and acknowledge, the depravity and helplessness of their own soul.
    This message has caused the torture and death of many ambassadors. Before his execution, Paul described himself as an ‘ambassador in chains.’
    What hope can a Christian have then when he is stuck behind enemy lines and facing an angry mob?   
    When I quoted Matthew chapter 28 earlier, I missed the end of the quote off. Read it again and see why a Christian should be encouraged:

    “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

    I don’t want to push the analogy too far, but the hope a Christian bears is this: He is not alone, his Prince and Commander-in-Chief is with him. Our Lord does not leave us unaided to proclaim his Gospel, we have a mighty compound (unimaginably more mighty than an embassy’s walls) encompassing us and keeping us safe.
   Dwell on that for a while.
   Remember this: despite the attacks against our walls, our God cannot be breached, he is our shield and our defender. We may be Ambassadors in an alien land, but we are not alone!

We rest on Thee, our shield and our defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender
We rest on Thee and in Thy name we go