Ready for the Banquet

 

Monday, March 28, 2022

After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the Lord!  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.  His judgments are true and just.  He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality.  He has avenged the murder of his servants.”  And again their voices rang out:  “Praise the Lord!  The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!”  Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne.  They cried out, “Amen! Praise the Lord!”  And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.”  Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:  “Praise the Lord!  For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.  Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him.  For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.  She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”  For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.  Revelation 19:1-8

If this moment was a group meeting, and it was my turn to introduce myself, it might go like this:  Hello; I’m Rusell…I’m an introvert.  The truth is, as a rule, I despise big crowds.  Banquets are always a source of angst.  Oh, I’m not against food; I’m rather a fan of the stuff!  But it is the engagement, being on your toes, socially (which doesn’t come naturally to an introvert).  If I’m hosting, it’s my job to make sure everyone experiences hospitality…a good time.  If I’m a guest, I’m committed to be appreciative and respectful – to help everyone else have a good time.  It’s exhausting to say the least.  The next two days are revovery mode!

That being said, there is one banquet I’m eagerly awaiting, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  The reason this introvert is so looking forward to a gathering bigger, and more intricate and socially-non-distanced has to do with the eschatological timeline of Christ’s return to clean up the mess that is humanity, and her habitat, planet earth.  It is the beginning of eternity, a place where time disappears, and perfection is completed. 

Everything, relationships, strength, health, justice, and peace (just to name a few we can’t seem to get right in this life)…all this will be as God intended, restored to God’s perfect will. 

And the banquet…it will be the greatest celebration of reunion with saints of all time. 

     ·       It will be the culmination of what God promised to humankind in the Garden of Eden. 

     ·       It will be the treasure of the rainbow God displayed to Noah after the flood. 

     ·       It will be the fulfillment of an empty tomb’s promise. 

     ·       It will be the backdrop for when the bride meets her bridegroom. 

We are going to see the King!

For You Today

One of the things I’m greatly anticipating is the moment when I realize all my strength-draining introversion has faded; my new body, mind, soul…my whole being will crave being with all of God’s Forever Family without worrying about measuring up, lasting through, or recovering from any of it. 

Best of all, I won’t want THAT banquet to end…and it won’t!

What a day…glorious day…that will be!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title image: Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©    

Invitation to a Party

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Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”  Jesus replied with this story:  “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.  When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’  But they all began making excuses.  One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’  Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out.  Please excuse me.’  Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’  “The servant returned and told his master what they had said.  His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’  After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’  So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.  For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”  Luke 14: 15-24

The old saying goes something like there’s no such thing as bad weather, only a bad choice in clothing.  That sounds a little empty when you’re talking about people in the pathway of a Category 5 hurricane.  However, the clothing in this case is the preparation choices – which, in my case, would probably involve moving as fast as I can in the opposite direction of the storm!

Jesus’ parable about the man who was giving a great banquet is all about the responses of those whom he’d invited.  They gave excuses – some which sounded quite reasonable; others that were lame.  We must remember that this story is told in response to a man’s musing over the grandeur of God’s heavenly banquet in the New Kingdom.  Jesus travels back further than the banquet…all the way to the invitations.

We could sum up the story in many ways, but what strikes me this morning is that there are always obstacles in the way of obeying and serving God; our resolve must be to never let them become excuses.  I am, for instance, an old guy now.  That is an obstacle with health issues, decreased energy reserves and strength, and a thousand other things that want to claim my attention; there could be an excuse (or twenty) for every ministry opportunity. 

We all face the same dilemma…not enough time, resources, strength or knowledge to do all life seems to demand.  But – back to Jesus’ parable – this was an invitation to a great, grand party; we’re talking priority here!  And the grandest factor is the Giver of the invitation.  As we live life in the Kingdom of God, there must be a constant focus kept of the name signed at the bottom of the invitation; how we respond determines a lot about the reception we will get at the front door on that final day.

There are many these days who reject the invitation outright, even denying God’s existence…or, if He does exist, His right to demand our attendance at His party.  That is a right God granted to every human; it’s called free-will.  It’s a sad response to a grand invitation, but each person chooses heaven or hell.

Perhaps the saddest response is the excuse of the half-hearted Christian who wants both heaven’s blessing as well as the hell of selfishness.  It’s something like getting an invitation to the party, and responding thank you, how kind of you to think of me; unfortunately, I can’t come because Friday is my poker night with friends, and your party isn’t nearly as much fun.  You can send my piece of cake and whatever else you’re going to serve to my apartment.  And could you send it Thursday?  I wouldn’t want to inconvenience my friends if the messenger showed up during our game.

For You Today

Parables can get kind of fanciful and far-flung; this one isn’t!  What Jesus said about the excuses people not getting even a morsel to taste at the Heavenly Kingdom banquet is clear…it’s not an invitation to ditch, duck, or demur; you don’t want to miss this party!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Courtesy of  Pixabay.com     Unless otherwise noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

The Time Has Come

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Monday, April 1, 2019

Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:  “Praise the Lord!  For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.  Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him.  For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.  She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”  For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.  Revelation 19:6-8

I’ve officiated at enough weddings in the past 40 years to know the pecking order of things when that special day of the ceremony arrives.  During one rehearsal a groom kept asking questions of the pastor about where he should stand, and if he should keep his hands folded this way or that.  When the 3-year-old flower girl had a melt-down everyone took a break.  The pastor took the groom aside and told him:  Listen, just stand in that one spot and look at the bride with everyone else…it doesn’t matter how you hold your hands, bud; nobody’s going to be looking at you.  Considering the norm, a groom will wear a $75 rented tux, while the bride’s gown makes the national debt look like an austerity program.  

When Elizabeth and I got married we saved the tux rental too because I had my Army uniform to wear.  One of the groomsmen told me it was appropriate; that uniform with the private’s stripe shouted that I was a guy who knew how to take orders!

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be like none other.  According to this end time prediction the bride will be beautifully dressed in the most elegant way, adorned with the sacrificial works of the church in caring for people throughout the ages.  But the groom, the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, the One Who died for this bride, will be the center of all creation and beyond. 

All that exists will be turned towards the groom on that day.  And that means every believer, every man, woman, and child who has trusted in Christ will be in attendance, and all attention will be on Messiah; no one will have eyes for anyone but Jesus.

The Apostle John, writing down this Revelation vision about that day as Jesus spoke it to him, recorded that the bride had prepared herself.  That preparation is the sum of all the good that has been done by believers in the name of Jesus over the last two millennia.  I believe it also includes those pre-cross saints, such as Abraham, Abel, the prophets, King David, Samson, and everyone who trusted in God’s promise of a Savior.  Every kindness ever done in the name of our Lord is remembered in Heaven (whether or not it is recorded on earth) and will be rewarded on that day.

When I was much younger that day of Jesus’ return, and the marriage supper of the Lamb seemed so much more removed from reality than today.  Perhaps, owing to the naïve nature of the 1950’s sans Internet and lightning-fast news reporting, as well as my own preoccupation with growing up, playing sports, and generally surviving the threat of polio and measles.  My mind just didn’t have time for thinking about all the wonders of the world coming to an end before I’d even had a chance to explore some of it.  

Fast-forward to the dawn of the 3^rd decade of a new millennium, I can’t believe it hasn’t happened yet!  Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, floods, famine, atmosphere collapsing…Jesus’ Mt Olivet sermon[iii] warnings of end times approaching read like the gloom and doom of the daily news reports.  Perhaps it’s just my age, or a different stage of preoccupation with Scripture’s forecast, but the question occupying my mind mostly these days is how much longer can it be?

For You Today

It isn’t for any of us to know the exact time, or exactly what it will be like when Jesus Christ returns to set everything right which has been wrong.  But we have the larger picture – it is going to be the best…better than any human imagination can conceive.  The time…when it comes…will be so grand, no believer will ever look back on this life wishing for the good ol’ times; as the poet said, the best is yet to be!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[i] Title Image:   Pixabay.com

[ii] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from The New Living Translation©

[iii] Matthew 24-25

Four Confession Booths; No Waiting!

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Friday, October 13, 2017

Praise the Lord!  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever.  Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?  Who can ever praise him enough?  There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.  Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people; come near and rescue me.  Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones.  Let me rejoice in the joy of your people; let me praise you with those who are your heritage.  Like our ancestors, we have sinned.  We have done wrong!  We have acted wickedly! 

Psalm 106:1-6^(NLT)

Scripture records how, in the Garden of Eden God held Adam and Eve accountable for their actions of disobedience.  In the entirety of the rest of Scripture there is an unmistakable pattern of:

·       God’s ways being clearly laid-out,

·       followed by humankind’s disobedience and rebellion,

·       and that followed by God’s invitation to return to fellowship. 

The Psalmist’s pattern is no different. 

When we read Psalm 106 we can stop short with praise the Lord and thanking Him for his good and faithful love.  We can be mesmerized by his glorious miracles.  We can (and do) spend much time in asking to be remembered in his favor and rescue (including tons of prayers for Aunt Susie’s toenail infection, heart procedures and gastric problem relief).  We pray heartily for participating in the prosperity of the chosen ones.  We want to take part in the joy of [God’s] people.  We want all of that!

But too often we forget the final verse of that praiseworthy litany:

Like our ancestors, we have sinned.  We have done wrong!  We have acted wickedly!  Psalm 106:1-6^(NLT)

I was having a discussion with other pastors on a Facebook page this week about the Matthew 22 passage where Jesus is teaching about the kingdom gathering for the celebration of the Bride (church) being married to the Bridegroom (Jesus, the Son).  One man shows up without a robe, and is kicked out of the party.  The discussion centered around why the man wasn’t accepted; obvious (and orthodox) theology tells us it was because the robe is required.  That robe represents righteousness, and it is only available through faith in Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection.  The man without the robe sauntered into the banquet hall in his own costume (self-righteousness), and God, the Father of Christ the Bridegroom, had the arrogant one ejected. 

This is a picturesque and common teaching method to get across the point – we aren’t connected to God or His salvation in any other way than the way God has proscribed.  We come to Him on HIS terms, not ours.

And that way is still the cross, by way of humble confession of our sins

For You Today

The title of this devotion is somewhat misleading, or under-stated; there are more than four confession booths…there’s one for each human who has ever lived.  Yours is in the same place mine can be found…in our hearts and minds.  When you confess Christ as Lord and Savior, he dresses you in a robe fit for the wedding feast of the ages!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: Courtesy of:  Pixabay.com

When Jeremiah Preached Prosperity

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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

“Now I want to say something more about this city.  You have been saying, ‘It will fall to the king of Babylon through war, famine, and disease.’  But this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:  I will certainly bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury.  I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety.  They will be my people, and I will be their God.  And I will give them one heart and one purpose:  to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants.  And I will make an everlasting covenant with them:  I will never stop doing good for them.  I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.  I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.  “This is what the Lord says:  Just as I have brought all these calamities on them, so I will do all the good I have promised them.  Fields will again be bought and sold in this land about which you now say, ‘It has been ravaged by the Babylonians, a desolate land where people and animals have all disappeared.’  Yes, fields will once again be bought and sold—deeds signed and sealed and witnessed—in the land of Benjamin and here in Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the hill country, in the foothills of Judah and in the Negev, too.  For someday I will restore prosperity to them.  I, the Lord, have spoken!”   Jeremiah 32:36-44^(NLT)

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, preached pretty much a message of gloom and doom.  Then it all changed; he became a prosperity preacher!  The point was that God was going to restore prosperity to His people after a time of discipline.  Many point to the historical re-population of Palestine after World War II as the fulfillment of this prophecy.  I look at it as the prelude to fulfillment, with much more to come.  God is not done with Israel!

Some are fond of looking at Israel and proclaiming the church as the New Israel.  While there are parallels to draw between the church and Israel, a quick rehearsing of history would tell a chilling truth that if you want to step into that role, it isn’t all beer and skittles.  Think hatred, persecution, and holocaust!  Israel’s history is fraught with pain.

The church has had its share of all of that, and, like Israel, God is not done with His bride; not by a long shot, especially when you consider the promise of Revelation:

Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:  “Praise the Lord!  For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.  Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him.  For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.  She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”  For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.  And the angel said to me, “Write this:  Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”  And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”  Revelation 19:6-9^(NLT)

As Yogi Berra used to say:  It ain’t over till it’s over.

There are those who proclaim the end of the church, as if somehow the current malaise in God’s church translates as total failure, and the next generation will now, with its technology and information-sharing, have to save the Kingdom. 

Well, the Church is always going through transition, strains of tradition, and trouble.  Jesus never claimed it would be easy or clear cut; walking by faith never is!  But walking by faith also means walking towards the light.

And that is the greatest form of prosperity, bathed in the light of truth, to stumble no longer in the darkness of this age.

For You Today

God is not done with Israel.

God is not done with the Church.

Do you see a pattern here?  That pattern means God isn’t done with you either!

There, I’m a prosperity preacher!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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NOTES

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[i] Title Image: By RobertMWorsham (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons