British Embassy, The Hague

I was pleased to see the British Embassy to the Netherlands at The Hague last summer. I had no business there, I merely wished to view it. Its architecture looks wonderfully British, which it isn’t, and its large windows lend it a sense of purpose and dignity. Here is a little piece of our kingdom within the territory of another.

The British embassy to the Dutch must surely be one of the nicest diplomatic postings in the Foreign Office’s gift. Apart from a few unfortunate wars during and after Cromwell’s time, we have had an excellent relationship with that intelligent, kind and godly people. Sadly, in 1979, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Sir Richard Sykes, was murdered by Irish republican terrorists, along with a 19-year-old Dutch national who was helping him into the Rolls Royce. He might have been close by the territory of his motherland, but his nation’s enemies were also close by, too, guns at the ready.

Each Christian is but a breath from his real home; sometimes, God's enemies are only too pleased to send him there.

Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed shall ye be when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you for my sake, falsely.

Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:10-12, Geneva Bible

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