RSVP

 

"The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business . ...For many are called, but few are chosen." 

Matthew 22:2-24

RSVP means to respond to an invitation- please reply. We have all been there. It comes in the mail- an invitation to a special event: a wedding, shower, anniversary, graduation, etc. How many times, when we aren't sure whether we want to attend, we just shove it off into a corner of a drawer. We want to think about it for awhile. Other times, we know we really want to attend, and we fill it out and send it back immediately.

In these verses in Matthew, Jesus was saying that the kingdom of heaven was like a great wedding feast and the king sent out invitations, expecting a good reply. But most of the people had something else they wanted to do, or thought was more important- so they just shoved the invitation in a drawer, so to speak and never bothered with it.

Many are "called" but few are "chosen". There is a difference between being called (invited) and being chosen ( a choice, excellence- to receive the King's inheritance)- that King being Jesus Christ. Christ died for mankind to deliver us from the sin, curse and the nature of Adam. There wasn't and still is not anything man can do in order to be saved outside of accepting God's invitation to salvation. The call- the invitation- goes out to everyone. But we must RSVP. We must accept the invitation that God has sent out to us. Picture, if you will, receiving a hand written invitation to the Kingdom of God which includes the Father's inheritance- eternal life with God, a blessed life while here on earth- and this invitation being written with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. It cost God a lot to extend that invitation to us. But unless we accept it- by faith- let God know that we accept it and are willing to give our lives over to Him- nothing will happen. It will be just like those invitations that you threw in the drawer and never answered.

It isn't an automatic thing- eternal life with God. We must be willing to be part of that wedding feast and in order to do that we must accept the invitation, put on the wedding garment- (being filled with the Holy Spirit)- and allowing God to take control of our lives. Unlike attending some event- this event is a life-time commitment. Many are called- but few are chosen. We must be willing to choose to be part of the chosen. We must be willing to accept that blood stained invitation from God- accept His salvation from sin and death- and be united with God through Christ. 

 

What have you done with invitation? Unlike an invitation that we get in the mail today- the only expiration date is death- our death. Until we breathe our last breath- the invitation stands. You need to respond to God's invitation to share in His eternal life, to be blessed beyond measure in this life, to love and serve God with your whole heart- to have His Word active in your life on a daily basis. The double blessing comes when we pass from this life to the next- but in this life we have life and more abundantly (John 10:10)  than we do without Christ. There are blessings untold waiting just for you! RSVP asap! You never know when that last breath will come and that last beat of the heart will take place. Do it now before it is too late. Respond- accept that invitation to come to God through His Son Jesus Christ. Christ is the only way, the only answer and the only invitation that you need to respond to. In today's scripture- it says that those who did not respond were cast into outer darkness- an eternity without God.

What is holding you back from responding? You want to do other things first? You want to wait until your spouse is saved? I have heard that excuse many times- and often both spouses die without ever giving their lives over to God. You think you are not worthy? Christ makes us worthy because He is worthy. There isn't anything we can do on our own to make us worthy of accepting His invitation. Not one thing. Just what is keeping you from accepting God's invitation? Don't put it off too long- because you never know when the invitation expires- at your death. Accept His glorious invitation today!  RSVP now!

"Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready." 

 Luke 14:16 

 

~Donna