“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’  With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”  (John 19:30)

And so it was complete.  The gift has been given.  The price has been paid.  My price has been paid.  The invitations issued, my place at the table set, my spot reserved, my room made ready, the fatted calf killed, angels holding their breath, waiting to break into song – all awaiting my response.

Now nothing else remains but for me to answer because, “It is finished.”  Jesus did all that was necessary, all that was required to secure my invitation and to provide for my place in eternity.  There is nothing left for me to do, except to reply to His invitation.

I am told to come as I am.  He will provide all that I need, even the clothes.  “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,”  (Isaiah 61:10)

I have been invited to enter into a kingdom prepared for me before time even began.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”  (Matthew 25:34)

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.  He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.  Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner:  My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready.  Come to the wedding banquet.’  But they paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to his business.  The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.”   (Matthew 22:2-6)

Can you imagine turning down such a lavish invitation?  An invitation from a king granting access to his kingdom and inclusion in a feast and a celebration, a place at the banquet table – who could refuse such a generous, undeserved offer?  And yet there were empty places at the table.  Unimaginable!  How could this be?

These words of C.S. Lewis may prove a partial explanation of why someone would resist such an irresistible invitation.  He says, ”  . . .  when infinite joy is offered us, (we are) like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.  We are far too easily pleased.”

1 Corinthians 2:9 tells me that,  “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

So I will just have to trust Him and accept His irresistible invitation to spend eternity with Him.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”  (John 14:1-3)

He’s preparing a place just for me, fully furnished.  All I have to do is to accept His invitation – to let go and enter in – leave behind my past – be made new – I can leave it all behind – I won’t need any of it where I’m going.  He will supply everything I need and more. It’s all part of His irresistible invitation  . . .

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30)

sincerely,       Grace Day