City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 

Ephesians 2:19-21

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

2 Corinthians 5: 17-20

²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Reflection

My favorite job in the Mission Control Center (MCC) is actually not in Houston.  In fact, it is specifically not in Houston.  The name of the position is the Automated Rendezvous Officer (ARO), and the job is to go to the partner control center and help coordinate the arrival and departure of spacecraft with the International Space Station (ISS).  Sorry for all the acronyms, but it is an occupational hazard. I’ve done this job in Russia, Europe, Japan, and even inside the United States.

I think I enjoy it so much because I understand it as a helper position, and I can see so many ways I can be helpful.  Also, it is not a normal position.  You have to build it using a basic set of principles and then adjust your work based on the situation of the day.  So, the basic direction is to go over there, understand how they work, make sure we are communicating, and do smart things.  Very specific instructions, but not very clear direction.  It is very similar to an ambassadorship.  I work with partners to understand their methods, their concerns, and their needs, and I work to help them understand our methods, concerns, and needs.  The process of getting to a good understanding is often very frustrating, but it is extremely rewarding when you can achieve it.

It is not my job to represent my own wants and desires, but those of my organization.  And I am also to be faithful to represent our partners wants and desires as truthfully as I can.  Unfaithfulness in either direction will most likely end with a very bad result.  Besides, it’s not like they are going to let me bring a rocket home and put it in my garage.  Note to self; heavy trash is coming soon.

Application

As we live our Christian lives we should remember that the destination of Christ is a desirable place to be, that it is Christ who seeks the lost, and that others will see Jesus for who he is, just as we did.  As an ambassador for Christ, we only need to be faithful to deliver the message of Christ as clearly as we possibly can. 

You can win a victory in someone’s life if you can show them a clear point to which they disagree with Christ.  Coming to this point does not mean that you have increased their separation from the gospel, but rather that you have led them to the cross.  So, what better place to show God’s love than to someone who has just begun to discover the extent to which Jesus went to for their redemption.  Be faithful in your witness and the Lord will bless the fruit of your labor with the most wonderful outcome.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for leading me back to Your kingdom and making me a royal citizen in Your holy city.  I pray that I might be a faithful ambassador for the gospel, leading people to a fuller understanding of who You are and how much You love each person.  Please let me not become tired in the task, or lazy in my efforts.  All praise to You, in Jesus’ name, amen.