Knowing your station in life …

It’s somewhat odd for Americans to think about royalty, and yet, around the world there are still kings and queens, princes and princesses, and other assortments of ranks and stations in life.

But for most of us, when we hear the term, “the royal family,” we think of Queen Elizabeth II and her family which comprises the royal monarchy of the United Kingdom.

The Queen’s son, Prince Charles, created quite a stir in 2004 when he complained about people wanting to “rise above their station in life” (you can find just one of many stories about the controversy here). The media painted the Prince’s remarks as suggesting that we all have a “station in life” that we’re stuck at.

Well, not if we know Jesus Christ. By surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ, we are translated from darkness to the marvelous light that is Christ, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. Our “station in life” changes radically!

It is true that we should have a right understanding of who are, especially those of us who are in Christ. Mitchell Dillon gives us a poignant reminder of what our station in life is when we live for God:

“No one thinks of the pen while reading the letter. They only want to know the mind of the person who wrote the letter. That’s exactly what I am in God’s hand — a little pencil.”

That role of a “pencil” is better known in scripture as being an ambassador for Christ, so that, as “God’s pencil,” He can make His appeal to the lost of this world through us:

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.

Just as the writer crafts his masterpiece with a little pencil, God shares a message of reconciliation to lost humanity through us as ambassadors for Christ.

That’s quite a “station in life”! Are you living up to it?

As God’s pencil, are you bringing the message of reconciliation to those who don’t know Him?

Scotty