Do you know what advertisers know that God has known for a long time? That people are your best advertisement.

When you see someone with a new bag, or in a new car, or some comfy (and cute) looking shoes, you’re naturally drawn to want them. And that same premise is why Paul said, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God'” (2 Corinthians 5:20). 

Through the eyes of Heaven

If you’ve been in church for any amount of time, you’ve heard a sermon on this: We are ambassadors for Christ! But what if we remove the pressure and look at this through the eyes of heaven?

What I mean is, heaven understands salvation much better than most of us. God, the Holy Spirit, and all the angels watched Jesus go to earth on assignment. They watched His life, His death, and His resurrection. They were there when He presented His blood on behalf of humanity. Heaven knows what eternal salvation fully means.

This is why Paul had a glimpse of these things and was empowered and inspired to write his letters. Before calling us ambassadors, he said, “[Jesus] died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

We died to our old sin life.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old [sin life] has passed away, and see, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

And see? When others see the freedom you and I now walk in, they want it too. We are God’s best advertisement. Where there once was heaviness, there’s now peace and joy. Where there once was anger and frustration, there’s now ease and gladness. Where there was once worry and fear, there is now hope and confidence.

What’s confusing is when we claim to be Christ-followers, but have little or no joy, peace, ease, gladness, hope, or confidence. How sad is that? It’s a poor example of our true life in Christ. I’m not saying we won’t have challenges, but we have an Advocate who helps us. We have peace that passes all understanding and hope that anchors our soul in the midst of storms!

Ambassadors represent.

Jesus made a great exchange on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21). He took the old sin-life and gave us HIS-life (His righteousness). Heaven prays we would embrace it and wear it well because there’s no better advertisement for Who and what we were made for. This passing world can’t offer it.

You were made to “let your light shine before others, so that others may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). 

The world knows the best advertisements succeed by selling an emotion, surprising the audience, and remaining radically consistent with a brand’s core identity. So how much more should these things be true of Christians? God is making His appeal through us. Our lives should be walking billboards that say: “Be reconciled to God!”

I’m not saying salvation is only an emotion but it is a heart change (a heart exchange). Who I once was is not who I am after receiving Christ. It surprised others who knew me before. But if I slowly drifted back to my old sin-life, and didn’t remain consistent with my new life, no one would want what I found.

Your core identity is found in Christ alone. Live it well and be ready to tell others when they ask you. Heaven is counting on us!