The invitation

All too often we don’t want the light. What causes us to stay in the shadows? Is it the fear of change? We know that the light is warm, it is inviting. If we will just pick it up, take it with us we will never see things the same ever again. It does take effort on our part though. It will call for changes not just in our hearts, or in our everyday lives. Old relationships will be lost, new ones will form, and some will change with you as change, and they will be stronger than ever. While the transition from darkness might take some time, and effort we need to remember that there is nothing to fear. The Lord is very reassuring of this in Jeremiah 29:11-13 when he says: 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

So here is the Light, telling us plainly that there is nothing to fear. Yet, we still hesitate….So if there is nothing to fear, then what could it be? Maybe God is just no that cool? What? Did I really say that? Well, that is exactly what a lot of people say….well that is the way they act, we jump at the chance to talk trash about our co-workers, and we don’t think twice about passing along the e-mail that is a little risqué. Yet bring up Christ, bring up God…..heads turn, and eyebrows go up. If you look at Christ….I mean really look at his time before he came to Earth, His time here, and after He died, and was resurrected, how could you say he is not cool?

He was there when heaven and Earth were created, He was there when live was breathed into man, He feed many with nothing, and changed water to wine, He cast demons out of people, and raised the dead…….He died and took on the sin of every man, woman and child…..He became sin, so that we all could have life everlasting……how could you even allude that Christ is not cool? If he were walking the Earth today, wouldn’t you want to hang with him? A man that could do all of these things, that could give you so much…..A man that loved so deeply….You are going to seriously try to say that Christ is not cool?

I suspect what the problem is; I have talked to a lot of people, and picked their brain on this. A very large reason that many do not want to answer the call has noting to do with Christ himself. It truly has noting to do with faith, of belief in God. A big reason that people do not want to come to Christ………is other people, “church people” people that are in the church all of the time…..but have forgotten why they are there. Yes, I am saying that Christians that live preach, and judge by legalism are keeping many people away from Christ. I have a friend that was born and raised Catholic; they do not go to Church anymore, not because they don’t believe in God, but because they feel looked down upon when they are there. They have tried different churches, yet run in to the same thing at each place. Another person was telling me that it really bothered them that seldom did they really feel welcome at church. Oh they got the obligatory welcome, the big smile, the handshake, or pat on the back…..but when it came time to really join the church, to really share in the lives of others, and relate the joy, peace, and love of Christ, they felt shut out.

I’ll give you and example:

There was a very well off church the members there were always dressed nice, they always “kept up appearances” in the community. One morning a fella comes in. He is looking pretty rough, faded jeans with a hole in the knee, Boots, flannel shirt, and a cowboy hat. Well he comes in and makes his way to a seat in the back. Many members of the congregation are very upset. This man is just not dressed to honor God…..they write quick notes to the minister, something must be done, this is just unacceptable!

The Minister comes out, olds service, and then as the man is leaving, he pulls him to the side. The Minister tell him that he should really reflect on how he is dressed, he tells him that he should prayerfully consider what to wear to church, and let Jesus guide him.

The next Sunday rolls around, and just before service starts the same man walks in. Sam boots, jeans, shirt, and hat. After service the Minister catches him, and asks, well did you pray about your appearance here at church? What happened? The man looks at the Minister, and says well you know, funny thing. I did pray on it. I talked to Jesus and asked him just what should I wear to this church? And what was the answer you received the minister asked? Well Jesus said he did not know what I should wear to this church……He said he has never been to this church before.

This same story unfolds each and every Sunday through out our Country. People are excluded instead of included, they are left out in the cold, instead of brought in to the fold. Many people have traded the cross of Christ, for a laundry list of laws. Laws not created to help others find the Lord, but laws created to exclude and judge others. Theses are not the laws of the Lord, they are laws of man, and they have kept many people far away from Christ for far too long!

Many of us have turned our quest for Christ into a search for justification. We have let our hearts become aged and hard. When Christ was in Judea, he was talking to a large crowd. The people started bringing children to him, and the Apostles rebuked them, they did not want Christ to be “bothered” by children. Christ was not irritated; it did not just bother him. In Mark 10 we read that Christ became indignant, and He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

So what does that mean? Be like a child? Are we to be foolish like children can so often be? No, of course not but we can all learn something from watching a child.

A couple was sitting in a restaurant having lunch with their child one Sunday afternoon. There a couple of boots away was an old man, his clothes were tattered, he was dirty, his eyes were bloodshot, and his nose looked like a road map, although they were not close enough to smell him…..they were fairly certain he smelled. As they sat there trying not to notice, the see their child taking great delight in something, he is giggling and cooing, just smiling from ear to ear, they look to see what has caught his attention and see, it was the man. They try to ignore it, but he old man plays along, “hey there baby he says with his hands flapping around in the air, hey you beautiful little boy, do you know peek a boo? Do you? What are you doing today?” needless to say the couple was not amused. They go about their lunch, and try to finish up as quickly as possible. Their child is having nothing to do with his lunch, because he is lost in play with the old man. When the check arrives the husband takes it, and tells his wife, to go on to the car, he would pay the check and meet them there. As she gets up to leave, child in tow, she realizes that she has to walk right by the man. As she hurries past, her son let’s go of her hand, and as se turns she sees her child reach out to the man, arms outstretched in the universal sign for pick me up! Before she can react it is too late, the man picks up her son, and hugs him. Her son, grabs hold tightly and buries his head in the crook of the old mans neck, and as the mother looks she see the tears rolling down the old mans face. He holds n for a moment longer then pries the unwilling child away and hands him to his mother. “You take care of that boy he says” all she can squeak out is an ok, the man looks at there and say thank you, you have given me wonderful gift today.

The mother hurries out to the car, tears streaming down her face repeating forgive me God, please Jesus forgives me. In that one moment seeing her son in the arms of the man she was so disgusted by she saw and under stood what Jesus meant by you must be like a child. He son only saw a man who loved, and needed love. In that moment she heard God asking, can you spare you son for just one brief minute, I gave you mine forever. Children do not see the dirt, they see people as they are, creations of God, perfect in his likeness.

You see we all are imperfect, we all need forgiveness, we all have flaws, yet we all have the same invitation. Following in Christ’s footprints is not about making a list of laws then beating everyone over the head with them. He has written His laws on our heart. We know that all we have to do is say yes to the invitation.

I leave you with a story of a restaurant I went to, I want each of you to try to stop by there some time. It is the best place on earth to go. The service is impeccable, and the owner takes every little detail into consideration.






I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn't be the right place. After all, I couldn't possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this place was all about. But, this just couldn't be the right place.
Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation that I clutched in my hand. I scanned past the words, "Come as you are. No jacket required" and found the location. Yes, I was at the right place. I peered through the window again and saw a room of people whose faces seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed, adorned in fine garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined at this exquisite restaurant.
Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn clothing, covered in stains. I was dirty, in fact, filthy. A foul smell seemed to consume me and I couldn't shake the grime that clung to my body. As I turned around to leave, the words from the invitation seemed to leap out at me ... "Come as you are. No jacket required."
I decided to give it a shot. Mustering up every bit of courage I could find, I opened the door to this restaurant and walked up to a man standing behind a podium. "Your name, sir?" he asked me with a smile. "Jimmy D. Brown," I mumbled without looking up. I thrust my hands deep into my pockets, hoping to conceal their stains.
He didn't seem to notice the filth that I was covered in and he continued, "Very good, sir. A table is reserved in your name. Would you like to be seated?" I couldn't believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I said, "Yes, of course!" He led me to a table and, sure enough, there was a placard with my name written on it in a deep, dark red. As I browsed over a menu, I saw many delightful items listed. There were things like, "peace," "joy," "blessings," "confidence," "assurance," "hope," "love," "faith," and "mercy." I realized that this was no ordinary restaurant! I flipped the menu back to the front in order to see where I was at ... "God's Grace," was the name of this place!

The man returned and said, "I recommend the 'Special of the Day'. With it, you are entitled to heaping portions of everything on this menu." You've got to be kidding! I thought to myself. You mean, I can have ALL of this! "What is the 'Special of the Day' I asked with excitement ringing in my voice. "Salvation," was his reply. "I'll take it," I practically cried out.
Then, as quickly as I made that statement, the joy left my body. A sick, painful ache jerked through my stomach and tears filled my eyes. Between my sobs I said ... "Mister, look at me. I'm dirty and nasty. I'm unclean and unworthy of such things. I'd love to have all of this, but, but, I just can't afford it."

Undaunted, the man smiled again. "Sir, your check has already been taken care of by that Gentleman over there," he said as he pointed to the front of the room. "His Name is Jesus."
Turning, I saw a man whose very presence seemed to light the room. He was almost too much to look at. I found myself walking towards Him and in a shaking voice I whispered, "Sir, I'll wash the dishes or sweep the floors or take out the trash. I'll do anything I can do to repay you for all of this."

He opened His arms and said with a smile, "Son, all of this is yours if you just come unto me. Ask me to clean you up and I will. Ask me to take away the stains and it is done. Ask me to allow you to feast at my table and you will eat. Remember, the table is reserved in your name. All you must do is accept this gift that I offer you." Astonished, I fell at his feet and said, "Please, Jesus. Please clean up my life. Please change me and sit me at your table and give me this new life."
Immediately, I heard the words, "It is finished." I looked down and white robes adorned my squeaky clean body. Something strange and wonderful had happened. I felt new, like a weight had been lifted and I found myself seated at His table.

"The 'Special of the Day' has been served," the Lord said to me. "Salvation is yours." We sat and talked for a great while and I so enjoyed the time that I spent with Him. He told me, me of all people, that He would like for me to come back as often as I liked for another helping from God's Grace.

He made it clear that He wanted me to spend as much time with Him as possible. As it drew near time for me to go back outside into the "real world." He whispered to me softly, "And Lo, I am with you always." And then, He said something to me that I will never forget. He said ... "My child, do you see these empty tables throughout this room?" "Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean?" I replied. "These are reserved tables ... but the individuals whose names are on each placard have not accepted their invitations to dine. Would you be so kind as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined us yet?" Jesus asked.

"Of course," I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations." "Go ye therefore into all nations," He said as I turned to leave. I walked into God's Grace dirty and hungry. Stained in sin. My righteousness as filthy rags. And Jesus cleaned me up. I walked out a brand new man ... robed in white, His righteousness. And so, I'll keep my promise to my Lord. I'll go. I'll spread the Word. I'll share the Gospel ... I'll hand out the invitations. And I'll start with you.
Have you been to God's Grace? There's a table reserved in your name, and this is your invitation.

Will you go? Will you step out of the shadows? You don’t have to live like the cavemen did. Step into the light. There is nothing to fear, The Lord is waiting for you. Will you accept His invitation?


Peace,
Brian