God's called-out ones—whom the Apostle Peter calls a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9–10)—will soon be journeying to locations around the globe where God has chosen to place His name. Though we appreciate the opportunity to see new places and enjoy new experiences at the Feast of Tabernacles, do we truly realize that we will be traveling not as mere tourists—but as "ambassadors" of the Kingdom of God? God has called the weak and base of the world, such as were most of us before we were called (1 Corinthians 1:26–31). But now that we have been called, He is training us to be His firstfruits. If we are truly "overcomers," we will have a special responsibility of service in His Kingdom, helping to re-educate the people and to guide and rebuild the nations.
We go to the Feast of Tabernacles to develop a deeper understanding of God's Kingdom—a kingdom that we each represent in our daily lives as His ambassadors. At the Feast, we receive highly specialized "ambassadorial" training that can help us function more effectively in our temporary, earthly homes, when we return home from the Feast after a little more than a week of special training.
Are you prepared spiritually for the opportunity of attending the Feast of Tabernacles in a few weeks? Will you wisely use the time to further develop the skills and perspectives of a true ambassador of God's Kingdom?
Every baptized member of God's Church, and everyone in the process of being called by God, is called to be an ambassador of God's Kingdom. No matter how old or young we are, God wants us to surrender to Him, so He can use us as His ambassadors to this declining world. Children, teens, young adults, those in middle age, and those in the autumn of their physical years are all called to be Christ's ambassadors—right now!
But what are some of our responsibilities as ambassadors, and why is the Feast of Tabernacles such an important event for us? We need to understand who we are, as we assemble at God's Feast sites around the world—and ultimately, after we return home following the Feast.
What Is an Ambassador of God's Kingdom?
In 2 Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul shows us how we should view our earthly, physical bodies. He describes them as our "earthly house" or earthly "tent," which will be destroyed (v. 1). Paul then points us to the heavenly "habitation" for which we yearn (v. 2)—a spiritual body that the "firstfruits" will receive at the return of Christ. We do not "go to heaven" for our eternal reward—rather, this glorified body comes from heaven at the resurrection. We understand that as long as we are "at home" in these physical bodies, we are absent from the Lord (v. 6). Though we must rejoice in every day of life that God grants to us, we must never be completely "at home" in the flesh. We must always yearn and hunger to become full spiritual members of the God Family (1 Corinthians 15:54).
Paul goes on to explain that if we are truly in Christ, we must be a new creation, putting off old and ungodly ways, ideas, habits, thoughts, feelings and attitudes (2 Corinthians 5:17). God calls us so we can assist Him in the mission of preaching His Gospel of the Kingdom to the world—a ministry or teaching of reconciliation (v. 18). We have a message to proclaim, through word and deed, which emphasizes human beings being reconciled or "brought back" to God through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ (v. 19). The Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day picture the time when, under the Kingdom of God, the whole world will have the opportunity to be reconciled to the Father through Christ. You and I, called in this present age, are ambassadors of that soon-coming Kingdom, each called to help spread this awesome and exciting "good news" to the world.
But what are "ambassadors"—and what are their responsibilities? In his essay, "The Makings of a Good Ambassador," we read the perspective of Japan's former ambassador to Vietnam and France, Kideo Kitahara:
"…First, he [the ambassador] must have in-depth knowledge and understanding of major world problems. ... So ambassadors should try to form a clear picture of the international situation, to analyze it properly and to evolve their own judgment. They can no longer be content with understanding bilateral relations alone, in view of the interdependence of nations [essentially, ambassadors must understand how the actions of one nation impact other nations and the entire world]…As regards the human qualities an ambassador should have, it seems to me that the principal one is broadmindedness [we would call this "vision," or the ability to see the "big picture"]. Ambassadors should be open to cultural diversity and be able to understand it [Paul demonstrated this as he worked with the culture of the Athenians (see Acts 17:16–34)]. They must certainly strive to promote their country's national interests, but should not follow narrowly nationalistic impulses to which people are subject who have not made international relations their career [they must use discernment, gentleness, mercy, and love as they teach, they cannot force people to see their perspective]" (Source: http://www.ediplomat.com/nd/essays/kitahara.htm)
Kitahara's words can help us understand what is expected of an ambassador. Of course, as begotten sons and daughters of God today, we do not automatically carry the full weight of Christ's authority. Yet Christ lives within each converted Christian, and He has put us in a very responsible position. To carry out our Christian responsibilities, we must bear the "fruits" of an ambassador of God's Kingdom, so that God can use us to the extent that we do actually represent Him (Matthew 7:20). True Christians are called to represent Christ in the way they live and act—in being the "light" of the world and the "salt" of the earth. Each and every true Christian can have a powerful influence on others by his or her example, and by zealously supporting the proclamation of the message of the soon-coming Kingdom, or Government, of God.
Ambassadors, even while in their host nations, are not of those host nations. In modern diplomacy, they often enjoy "diplomatic immunity" from some of the laws of their host nations, which often puts them at odds with the citizens of their host nations. Residents of New York City will recall, over the years, the many scandals over parking violations and unpaid fines by United Nations diplomats who considered themselves "above the law" of New York. As Christian ambassadors, however, we seek to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). We obey the law of our host nations as fully as possible, where it does not contradict God's law (Romans 13:1).
When people look at you, or at me, what do they see? Do they see the government we are supposed to represent, or do they see carnal human beings striving to get their own way? As ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, we must allow Christ to live in and through us (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:5). Jesus Christ could say to His disciples, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Are you and I staying so close to God that others who see us can recognize God in us?
Where Is Your True Home?
God expects us, as His elect, to be "strangers and pilgrims" in this physical world today, while we earnestly seek our real, tangible, "heavenly country"—the nation and kingdom that we ultimately represent. Do we view ourselves as strangers and pilgrims in this world today, or do we "fit in" as citizens of the world and our local nations? The Apostle Peter describes God's elect as "pilgrims"— resident foreigners (1 Peter 1:1–2; 2:11). Our real citizenship is not as a European, an American (North, South, or Central), an African, a Filipino, an Aussie or Kiwi, or as any other physical nationality of today—despite what our passports may say! Our true and rightful citizenship, as God's elect, is from God's heavenly Kingdom (Philippians 3:20). Our true passport is, in essence, stamped by the Almighty God, since we are part of His spiritual nation of Israel (Galatians 6:16). As citizens of that nation, God even expects us to adhere to a set of laws that transcend and far exceed the feeble, surmountable laws of man (Acts 5:29). Is there any doubt why God has called us to "come out" of this world (Revelation 18:4)? The society we live in, under the sin-filled influence of the god of this age, is temporary and will pass away (1 John 2:15–17; 2 Corinthians 4:4). But we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ, and representatives of the soon-coming Kingdom of God. We are to come out of this world and be separate, because our true and real citizenship is not of the nations of this world, but of the soon-coming and very real Kingdom of God.
Ambassadors at God's Feasts
God's Holy Days, including the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day, are shadows or foretastes of awesome events that are yet to come in God's plan (Colossians 2:16– 17). Through these days, we catch a glimpse of the wonderful Kingdom of God that is coming—the Kingdom that we represent (1 Corinthians 13:12). As we travel to the Feast, we must remember that the Feast pictures the coming Kingdom of God—the "heavenly country" that we represent. That Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). This is why we are not to love the things of this world (1 John 2:15).
In his September/October 2008 Tomorrow's World article, "How would Jesus Vote for President?", Mr. Meredith wrote of the coming Kingdom and our role as Christ's ambassadors in it:
"The mission and calling of all true Christians is to help prepare the way—as advance emissaries—for the Kingdom of God, the literal government that the living Jesus Christ will soon set up. It will replace all the misguided human governments of this earth. We should conduct ourselves with love and respect for all human beings—including those in political offices. But we must always remember that our ultimate citizenship is not in or from the governments of this Satan-inspired society! Although we should serve others and do good on an individual basis, we cannot and must not get involved with military or political efforts to reorganize or to clean up Satan's deceived world. For the system itself is not God's system! He is only allowing deceived human beings to go their own way and experiment with various types of government during this present 6,000 years of human experience. Paul wrote: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14–15)."
Truly, we are of another nation—another kingdom. In the way we talk, the way we act, the way we dress, the way we treat others and the way we live our lives, we are examples to the world around us. Yet, although we are emissaries and ambassadors—and should be examples to the current world around us—we should also be careful to limit the scope of our interaction with that world, because it is a Satan-influenced and even Satan-directed world.
As we travel to and from the Feast of Tabernacles, we need to remember the tremendous responsibility that we bear as ambassadors for Christ. This is our full-time job, even during the Feast. We bear the title not only while at the Feast, but also as we travel to and from the Feast—and after we return home.
When we interact with people on the way to the Feast, we need to speak to them with the respect, patience and clarity of a true representative of God's Kingdom. They should know, by the way we address them and interact with them, that we are "different" in a godly way. What about our attire as we travel? Will our "traveling clothes" be appropriate for an ambassador of God's Kingdom, or would they be more typical for a citizen of this world? Of course, we do not have to wear "church clothes" at all times, but our attire—just like our words and actions—should reflect the higher standard of God's Kingdom. We will be known by how we present ourselves— how we talk, how we act, how we treat others, and even how we dress. Our appearance speaks volumes about who we are—and about our attitude toward the Kingdom we are supposed to represent—even before we open our mouths to speak.
What about our attitudes? Will we display the positive, excited, and encouraging perspectives appropriate to emissaries of God's Kingdom, or will we allow Satan to influence our approach? Will we display God's character traits of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness and faith—privately to our families, as well as publicly toward all the brethren—or will we display Satan's character traits of lewdness, uncleanness, hatred, contentiousness, wrath, drunkenness, selfish ambition, dissension, heresy, envy and revelry (Galatians 5:19–23)? Which character traits should ambassadors of God's Kingdom display?
Returning Home
The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of the impermanent nature of this life, as we reside for eight days in our temporary dwellings (as the ancient Israelites resided in their own temporary booths). However, even when we return home from the Feast, we should remember that the dwellings to which we are returning are also "temporary" abodes, where we await the arrival of our Kingdom at the return of Jesus Christ.
When we return from the Feast, will we remember to view our present earthly homes in their true "temporary" light, or will we fall back into old habits we left behind while at the Feast? Will we further implement and apply the training that we receive at the Feast, or will we quickly resume a worldly routine that can lull us into spiritual complacency and prevent us from acting like the true representatives of God's Kingdom that we should be?
God's plan for humanity is truly magnificent! He has chosen a few average individuals who were fully engrossed in Satan's world, and made them ambassadors of His soon coming Kingdom! He has invited us, as His ambassadors, to eight days of specialized training for our duties, in His specially prepared locations around the globe, for the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day. Will we take that training seriously, using the many hours of God-inspired instruction and fellowship to help us become better representatives of our "heavenly country" to the present ailing world?
We must not take God's Feasts for granted! We must squeeze out of them every last drop of wisdom and godly instruction we can, so that we can return to our temporary earthly homes ready to more powerfully represent God's soon-coming Kingdom. So, bon voyage, my fellow ambassadors! May your Festival experience this year be truly memorable, and may you be continually vigilant as you represent your heavenly country to a world that desperately needs righteous government—a world in dire need of the righteous leaders God is training us to be!