Before the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible movies starting in the mid-90’s, there was a television series by the same name that inspired those movies. The TV show aired from 1966 to 1973, then it was revived for a couple of years in 1988. Those of you anywhere near my age may have watched that show – I did, regularly. I found it interesting and exciting.
To refresh memories, and for those of you that may not be familiar with the TV show, here’s some information found on Wikipedia: “…the show chronicled the exploits of a small covert team of secret government agents, known as the Impossible Missions Force, and their sophisticated methods of deceiving, manipulating and thwarting hostile Iron Curtain governments, third world dictators, corrupt industrialists, and crime lords, among others….Most episodes begin with Briggs or Phelps retrieving a hidden tape recorder (or sometimes a phonograph record) along with an envelope of photos and information that describes the mission. The recording almost always begins with ‘Good morning/afternoon/evening, Mr. Briggs/Phelps.’…The taped message usually continues, ‘Your mission Dan/Jim, should you choose to accept it’…with a brief explanation of the mission’s objective. At the conclusion, the listener is reminded, ‘As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.’…At the conclusion of the instructions, Phelps/Briggs is notified, ‘This tape will self-destruct in five [or, occasionally, ‘10’] seconds. Good luck, Dan/Jim.’ Smoke then rises from the recorder as the tape is automatically destroyed.”
So what does this old TV/movie reminiscing have to do with anything? Well, last week my article was titled “Be A World Changer”, and in it I talked about how being a fervent prayer warrior can help change the world. Then, during this past week, one of my daily studies was titled “Agents of Change”, based on the scripture passage 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 – “All these new things are from God who brought us back to himself through what Christ Jesus did. And God has given us the privilege of urging everyone to come into his favor and be reconciled to him. For God was in Christ, restoring the world to himself, no longer counting men’s sins against them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you—be reconciled to God. For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us!” (TLB)
So we’re called, not only to be prayer warriors helping to change the world, but we are called to be ambassadors (agents/representatives/messengers) for God. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines ambassador as this: “an official envoy – especially : a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government…as the resident representative of his or her own government…”
So God has called us to be an agent of the highest rank for Him to the people of the world. We are to be a liaison between God and the world. We need to help establish a relationship between God and the world. As an ambassador, we are to reside in the “nation” to which we have been assigned. Now that last comment may seem to be an obvious statement, but some Christians tend to think that they need to separate themselves completely from all that they believe to be a wrong/sinful/offensive lifestyle (that hostile, corrupt “nation”.) That just isn’t true. Granted, we aren’t supposed to participate in that wrong/sinful/offensive lifestyle – but as an agent of God, how can we be a liaison or establish a relationship if we avoid them completely? If we aren’t residing in their “nation” how can we expect to reach them? To be an effective ambassador, it not only requires that we be those world changing prayer warriors, but it requires us to be living examples – examples that can live and talk about the life-changing God we serve. With thought and dedication we can help influence life around us in that “nation” we’ve been called to.
“Encourage, heal, bridge gaps, confess sins on behalf of your city and nation and world, and speak God’s life into your surroundings. Stand attentively at the intersection of heaven and earth to serve the interests of God and those who need him.” “We have a responsibility to serve the greater good.” “Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go in that spirit. Be an ambassador of the extremely good will of the Father, and influence your culture with his creativity, wisdom, and love.” (Quotes from Chris Tiegreen)
Unlike the Mission Impossible Force, we don’t have to do our work in a covert way, nor do we have to employ methods of deceit or manipulation – and the only thing we need to focus on thwarting is the enemy that will try to disrupt our mission.
The issues in our “nation” – this very broken world – that need to be addressed are without a doubt much bigger than us – BUT, they are not bigger than our God. We need to pray that God will give us the wisdom we need to step into the gaps and help them see what an awesome God we serve. To be effective agents of change.
Written by Karran Martin – April 13, 2024
[All bold emphasis is mine]
Karran's Korner 