Well, are you coming, or not?

Banquet. 

The very word for me conjures up images of cheesy table decorations, bad speakers and overcooked food. Not to mention a room full of strangers, some of whom I'll be seated with at a table and with whom I'll have to make it through the evening by finding somethingto talk about. 

Not really my idea of a good time. But I was invited. And when I was invited, the host was so excited, and I wasso flattered that I told him I'd come.

Now, the host's servants have come to bring me to the banquet. Quick! I need an excuse. I'd much rather be home watching American Idol. Or taking the kids to Chuck E Cheese's to celebrate... um... celebrate... well, just being together is enough of a cause to celebrate. 

Oh, they're at the door now. "You're here to bring me to the banquet?"... "I'd love to come, but you see something has just come up and I won't be able to make it. Please give my regards to the host."

Whew! I got out of that one. Now, where's that TV remote...

The host went through a lot of trouble to put this banquet together, even going through the trouble of coming to give me a personal invitation. Why didn't I go? 

How many times has this played out in our own lives? While the scenario above is fictional, it is similar to things that I've done more than once in my life. 

But what Jesus is talking about here is definitely something altogether different. VERY different. 

We - You and I - have been given a personal invitation to THE BANQUET. And this is not just any banquet, this is the event of all Eternity. We will each want to be there. And don't be late. Once the time comes, the doors will be closed and locked - forever. 

What?! You didn't know you were invited? Well, allow me, as a designate ambassador of the Host, to extend you an invitation. You are invited to The Wedding Feast of the Lamb (see Revelation 19). The Lamb Himself came to secure your way in to the feast. 

Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed by God on behalf of all humanity to wash us of even the ugliest sin so that we could be clean and enter this banquet. There is nothing so awful that the Lamb's blood wash it clean. At this banquet will be murderers, liars, thieves, adulterers, prostitutes, drug addicts, drunks, wife beaters and the like. You know, people just like you and me. All of whom have accepted the invitation to the banquet. All of whom have decided to leave behind their sin-filled pasts, letting Jesus take their place as a condemned sinner, and coming out free and clean, innocent and holy. 

Jesus is inviting each of us. Will you leave behind your excuses? What do you have to do that is better than go to a feast that will last for all eternity? 

Are you staying home because you're ashamed about who you are and what you've done? Are you embarrassed that when you get there, everyone else will look like they belong, and you'll be out of place. Afraid you'll be asked to leave once someone finds out what you've done? 

Let me let you in on a little secret: Jesus already knows. Jesus knows that you are not dressed for the party he's throwing. Jesus knows you've done things you're not proud of. AND Jesus knew all of this when he decided to take your place on the Cross to die for all of those things that you've done. All of your sin was nailed to the Cross with Jesus. All of your sin was taken with him to the grave. And that is where it stays - the grave. When you accept Jesus' invitation to his banquet, all of your sin is washed away and buried so that God will never look on it again. 

When you accept the invitation, you'll accept it as you are. There is no need to try to go home and clean up and change first. You don't have the right clothes. Nothing you can do on your own will get you in to the banquet. You would look out of place and be thrown out if you tried to get in without accepting the invitation. 

"Our righteousness is like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).  

Only Jesus' righteousness will get us in. Don't worry. When you accept Jesus' invitation, he gives that righteousness to you, just like he will to all of the guests at the banquet. You'll be clean and well-dressed, just like all of the other guests. You'll fit right in. And most importantly, you will be welcomed with open arms by your most gracious and loving hosts: God the Father of All Creation and his Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of Mankind, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Forget your excuses. You've got nothing better to do. You've received the invitation. Are you coming or what? 

Created 9 months ago