A Royal Invitation
Scrolling through my computer files, I stumbled across a document pertaining to one of the productions my son, Ryan and I wrote, directed, and produced at our church in 2012. The production, A Royal Invitation, centered around the story Jesus told in Matthew 22.
A king and his kingdom resided far, far away, in the land of Eternia. No other kingdom possessed its vastness and fullness. Its realm… not confined to height, width, and breadth… flourished outside time and space. It filled the rest of the land with glorious splendor and majesty… incredible beauty, symmetry and perfection. The King of Eternia reigned with an open hand, extending His treasures to all the inhabitants, giving the people that which they did not deserve. He loved His people passionately, but the love for His Son, the Prince, surpassed them all. Likewise, the Prince took great pleasure in pleasing His father, the King.
The Father sent the Son away to accomplish a great feat for the people of Eternia, a feat of great sacrifice, a feat that only the Son could accomplish. His mission endured for quite some time… the exact date of His return… unknown to all… to all except His Father. So the King contemplated what He would do for His Son’s return.
He decided to give a feast for His Son… a royal banquet for the elite of the land. The royal invitations generated only a few responses. Furious, He decided to send a royal invitation to everyone in the entire kingdom… rich, middle class, the poor, young or old… everyone.
The invitation demanded only one requirement:
Hear Ye, Hear Ye, The King is giving a feast.
The Son will soon return, and the King would be delighted,
To dance and dine in elegance, With all who are invited.
There is only one thing, Which you must do.
Respond and accept the invitation, Which was personally sent to You.
Hear Ye, Hear Ye, The King is giving a feast.
People came. The ballroom filled with guests. The King announced His Son’s entrance and the Son delivered a message. The King then checked the responses to the invitations. Sadly those who neglected or refused to respond found themselves tossed out of the feast and casted into outer darkness filled with devastating weeping and gnashing of teeth!
Easter reminds us that God extends a royal invitation to us—His Word. John 3:16 states “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). The invitation… written personally to you and me… list only one requirement… accept His Son as Savior and Lord of your life.
None of us stand fit to dine and dance at the banquet with Jesus. But God gave us what we don’t deserve. He sent His Son from heaven to accomplish a great feat for us, a feat of great sacrifice, a feat that only He could accomplish. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and one day He will return to establish a new kingdom…the exact date of His return… unknown to all… to all except His Father.
So, Hear Ye, Hear Ye, one day, a marriage feast will be prepared for Jesus, the Lamb. All are invited… the elite of the land… the wealthy… the average… the down and out … the poor… but sadly, not all will accept.
Everyone who responds and accepts Him will be invited to attend. Revelations 19:9 reminds us that “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” One question: Will you be there?
I don’t know about you, but I am constantly thanking the Father for the invitation. The Father chose me, Jesus redeemed me, and the Holy Spirit keeps me. Thank you God for the royal invitation to celebrate the return of your Son, my Savior and King. I will be there!
Why? Simply …
