Revelation 3:20-21 NIV
[20] Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. [21] To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Good Morning!
God is very patient with us. He quietly knocks at the door to all of our hearts waiting for us to open the door so that He can come in and sit at the table and dine with us. The Bible talks about the great feast that will come in the next life and all of us are invited to the party. It is up to us to accept that invitation. There is a great day when Jesus will return to bring all of His beloved home to that great feast. For now, God is not slow in keeping His promise. He is patient, not wanting any of us to perish, but wants all of us to come to the table with Him in an attitude of repentance and acceptance of His son.
Everyone has heard and probably memorized the most famous verse of the Bible, John 3:16. This verse has so much depth that it is often overlooked. God wants us to truly understand the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of mankind.
He sent His only Son to die in our place for all of mankind. He lived a perfect life that we could not only to die a death that He didn’t deserve, but we do. He stood in the gap for us to give us redemption and forgiveness for all of our sins so that we can stand before the Father with our sins washed away as white as snow. This is the grace of God — to attend the feast (our eternity in heaven) when we do not deserve it. No matter how righteous we may think we are, without God’s Grace, we would be doomed.
2 Peter 3:9 NIV
[9] The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
John 3:16 NIV
[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Isaiah 1:18 NIV
[18] “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isaiah 64:6 NLT
[6] We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
God does not show favoritism.
Our Heavenly Father accepts all of those that do what is right, accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. That is all that is required of us — this is our RSVP to the eternal banquet. Our invitation was given and written with the blood sacrifice of Jesus. It is up to us to accept that invitation and open the door to our hearts, letting our lives be full of His mercy and grace.
Acts 10:34-35 NIV
[34] Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism [35] but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
The Last Shall Be First
Jesus teaches many parables about those who are least here on earth will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19). Those who are lowly of heart, humble and show mercy to others, will be called the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. God calls all of us to do what is right, to love mercy and walk in humility with Him. This is the position of the heart that He loves and will reward greatly in the His kingdom. This is how we build our treasures in heaven.
Luke 13:29-30 NIV
[29] People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. [30] Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
Micah 6:8 NLT
[8] No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Matthew 6:20 NLT
[20] Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
Death No More
This life is full of anxiety, fears, pain and sickness but this is not the end, merely the beginning. When we slip from this life into eternity, everything will be made new again.
Revelation 21:5 NLT
[5] And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then He said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
In the eternal banquet, there will be no more tears, no more death and no more pain. For those that open the door and come to the table, this is our destiny. We will have eternal peace and happiness in the presence of our Lord and King. All who are victorious will inherit the blessings that God has for us forevermore.
Isaiah 25:6-9 NLT
[6] In Jerusalem, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. [7] There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. [8] He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The LORD has spoken! [9] In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”
Revelation 21:7 NLT
[7] All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
I love you and am praying for you today!
Dad