Extraterritoriality is the privilege of immunity from local law enforcement enjoyed by certain aliens. Although physically present upon the territory of a foreign nation, those aliens possessing extraterritoriality are considered by customary international law or treaty to be under the legal jurisdiction of their home country. This immunity from law enforcement is reciprocal between countries and is generally provided for visiting heads of state, those in the diplomatic services of foreign nations and their families, and officials of the United Nations.  The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

Extraterritoriality...Wow, what a BIG word! 

However, it is a word that you need to come to understand in these uncertain times we are living through right now.  This is the last installment in the trilogy of messages I have been writing concerning how to survive in these tough times.  In 1 Corinthians 5 the Apostle Paul speaks of reconciliation.  He says that as Jesus reconciled us to the father that we are to reconcile others to Him.  He speaks of this as the "Ministry of Reconciliation"   He then calls every one of us "Ambassadors for Christ"   Have you ever thought of yourself as an Ambassador?  It is a very interesting concept in light of who we are in Christ and where we came from. 

An Ambassador is a representative of his country deployed in a foreign land.  He is to do many things but his most important job is to present his home country in a favorable light.  Many in that land have never been to his home country and the only idea they have of what the people are like is what they see in the Ambassador. He is not there to just enjoy the culture but he has a job to do.  A good Ambassador can accomplish things many times that guns and bullets cannot. 

This message was inspired by something that happened to me many years ago overseas.  Back when I first started traveling abroad and preaching in the third world countries they were very different than they are now.  I can remember the primitive conditions very well.  I was in a meeting in India and one of the workers needed to extend his travel visa.  I had to accompany him to the American Embassy in what was then Bombay.  You would have had to have been in Bombay to understand the squalor those precious people were living in at the time and I guess to some extent still are in places.  I literally had to put shaving lotion on a handkerchief and hold it over my nose to block out the stench.   As we were winding through the streets of the city it was just the saddest thing I had ever seen.  I described what the people were living in as "cardboard condominiums". 

However, when we finally rounded the corner to where the American embassy was it was a completely different picture.  I immediately knew we were suddenly in a different world.  We were met at the gate by stoic soldiers who stood guard to what was literally the entrance to the United States.  Remember inside a foreign embassy is actually considered the soil of that country.  Once inside I was met with a very different picture.  There were manicured lawns, tennis courts, a beautiful garden, swimming pool, and private beach.  I was amazed at what I found just inside the gates.  I was not in India anymore!  This was not the same place that was just outside the gates!  At first I was surprised that everyone spoke English.  Then I thought... well of course they do we are in America!  I was told so many things that day.  Those dedicated public servants who were stationed there were obviously a little homesick.  However, they had a piece of home right there with them.  They could order special things from the States.  Remember this was back before the Colonel and Ronald McDonald showed up!   So they could actually have some of the "delicacies" of home delivered by the supply airplane that constantly traveled between India and the USA. 

These diplomats were not affected by the economy of the country to which they had been assigned.  They had another source-the country from which they came!  I think you may see where I am going with this. As long as there were supplies in the USA, it did not matter what the situation was in India because India was not their source!

Now, let's look at the big word again...extra-ter-ri-to-ri-al-i-ty.  This is what every foreign minister enjoys worldwide.  They are not ruled by the laws of the country to which they are assigned but by the laws of their home country.  Even though they are thousands of miles from home they are governed AND protected by their home country. 

Now can you put yourself in this scenario?  Jesus told us in John that we are "not of this world".  Paul tells us in Philippians that God would supply all our needs according to His "riches in glory".  Our source is not this world or its governments or its economies.  Our source is our HOME.  I can remember as a boy hearing them sing, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through".  If this world is not my home then it is not my source either!  I am an ambassador from another place! 

Ambassador Elijah understood this when twice each day ravens were dispatched from the home country with bread and flesh.  He experienced it again when there was oil in the cruse and meal in the pot every day at Zarepath to feed him, the widow, and her son while famine devastated the rest of the country.  He had extraterritoriality!

If you can get your hands around this truth you will not fear everything that you see happening all around us today.  People are losing their jobs, economies are teetering on the edge of failure worldwide, and many are fearfully looking for the next thing to happen. But guess what child of God?  We are standing on holy ground.  We are in the embassy.  Actually we ARE the embassy AND the ambassador! Get this in your spirit.  You are not alone.  He said He would never leave you or forsake you.  I promise you....He won't!

So, how's it going?  Are you worried today?  Is the enemy trying to make you doubt God?  Maybe you are looking at a stack of bills that you don't know how you are going to pay?   Well I have good news for you. You have something very special!  You have extraterritoriality!  So, right now... stop worrying and call home, send an email to the home office, or in other words get on your knees and get a dispatch off to the Heavenlies.  He will hear you.  He will answer you.

Listen to me very closely Mr. or Mrs. Ambassador. Hold on!  There is a plane due from the home country any day!  Just have faith.  It is on its way.

I just cannot resist ending this message with the immortal words of Tattoo from Fantasy Island... The Plane!! The Plane!!