by David Brenneman
Many people today think of God as far off somewhere or choose to think that if He does exist, their way of enjoying life is much better than what He's suggested.
The invitations have been going out for decades. That's how big the deal is concerning salvation in Christ Jesus.
Some say they got the invite but have this to finish enjoying in life first or that that they want to do first.
Some outright raise an angry fist at God because they hate what it is that He says that they need to give up.
"But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’ And yet they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I purchased a field and I need to go out to look at it; please consider me excused.’ And another one said, ‘I bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’ And another one said, ‘I took a woman as my wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’ And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here those who are poor, those with disabilities, those who are blind, and those who are limping.’ And later the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and the hedges and press upon them to come in, so that my house will be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my dinner.’”" Luke 14:16-24 NASB
It still amazes me that when the Final Judgment of Jesus happens...He says nothing when He separates people to His right and to His left.
Families, friends, acquaintances, even enemies, will be separated. People who others didn't realize were saved from those who were not. People obviously saved from those who others didn't realize were not. Every single person who ever lived being put on one side or the other by Jesus.
In this, Jesus is righteous. In this, His will is being done. In this, every single person will be without excuse before Jesus.
Many whom find themselves standing with the unbelieving will cry out to Jesus that they did this and that in His name. He then speaks. Says to depart from Him for He never knew them.
To many among the Believing who are amazed at them standing where they are, who are incredulous as to why they are included where they stand. Jesus speaks and tells them that indeed they were saved because of their faith and in their living out their faith.
Everyone is receiving and has received that invitation. We don't choose to sit where we want to of our own accord. Those who have asked for salvation in Christ Jesus alone are those who've gladly accepted the invitation.
What we do with the invitation is up to all mankind. Many trample it under foot. Many others put it on the shelf in their minds, thinking they will get around to responding. Others dismiss it and just throw it away. Still others respond right away with gladness.
But rest assured, my Dear Reader, you have been invited. You will choose. It's not that you might choose. Even indecision is a decision. Sitting on the fence between coming to Christ and not is a decision against receiving it. Satan owns the fence.
Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has invited you to receive His free gift of salvation through faith in Him. What will you do with it?
In Romans, the Spirit makes it easy to understand what the invitation means.
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13 NASB
Salvation isn't your living life coming to an end. It's not you losing your joy in life either. It's not you giving up. Well in a sense it is. It's you giving up living life your way, under your own strength in exchange for a new life in Christ using His strength instead. Indeed there will be things in your life that will fall by the wayside. You just won't want to do them anymore. Think of that in terms of learning not to do something that just doesn't work. Growing up there's many such small lessons you learned what not to do because you learned they were harmful to you or others.
Jesus's invitation isn't without limitations. His Father set a day to which Jesus will stand once again and come receive to Himself all who have believed and those alive today who believe. There's yet to be a period of time called the 7 year Great Tribulation. It's the wrapping up of the judgments of God upon mankind and the world. People indeed will be saved during that time as well, although globally it becomes a mark of death. In those years saved people will be enemies of the state. People today can't fathom the idea that they will be forced to worship a man. At least most cannot. In some countries they actually do, they just don't understand that that is what they are brought up doing.
Your invitation is still available to you.
Jesus loved you enough to write it in His own blood.
He wants you to get to know the real Him and He wants to get to know you. The real Him, not what's been talked about or portrayed in movies. It's a very personal relationship that He's after.
What did you do with your invitation?
No better time than the present to respond to it. We know not what the rest of this day holds. We don't know if our standing up will be the moment of our last breath. Then the invitation is over.
Many trillions of people in Hell wish they had chosen to accept it.
You have been invited.
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