Grandpa and Grandma Morris have only one grandchild. Her name is Christy and she is 11 years old. She is a lovely young lady who is loved very much by her parents and her grandparents. Christy also knows that God loves her and that “God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:99In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9).
While Christy’s dad was out of town on a long work assignment, Grandma Morris was also out of town caring for her mother who was very ill. During this time Grandpa Morris was often invited to Christy’s house for supper. Can you imagine what happy times these were for Christy, her mother and Grandpa Morris?
I hope that all of you are like Christy in this way too. All her sins have been washed away because she knew she was a sinner and opened her heart to the Lord Jesus and accepted Him as her own Saviour. This makes Christy all the more dear to Grandpa Morris, because he also loves the Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God, the Bible, warns us that “if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be [accursed - the Lord comes].” 1 Corinthians 16:2222If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22). What a terrible thing it will be for anyone to have to spend eternity in outer darkness because he or she does not love the Lord Jesus!
Christy may be like many of you in another way. She has a cat for a pet, and the whole family loves her cat. One time Christy and her mother went out of town to stay awhile with her dad where he was working. Grandpa Morris stayed home alone, and it was his job to take care of Christy’s cat while they were gone. Though he had never been very fond of cats, Grandpa Morris did enjoy Christy’s cat while they were both at home alone.
One evening after Christy and her mother were back home again, they invited Grandpa Morris over for supper. He was teasing Christy about her cat. He said, “One of these days, I am going to come over and put that cat in a bag and take him away.” Christy quickly said, “Grandpa, if you do that there will be no more suppers!”
Of course, Grandpa Morris would never do such an awful thing as to be cruel to Christy’s beloved pet.
Such happy times as Christy and her grandfather enjoy are very pleasant to think about. They remind us of a supper invitation in the Bible where a certain man made “a great supper, and [invited] many.” Luke 14:1616Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: (Luke 14:16). He sent his servants out with the invitation, “Come; for all things are now ready.” But those people who were invited as guests began to make excuses. They were so busy with family plans, business deals and other things that they didn’t want to go to the supper. They said, “I pray thee have me excused.” v.18.
Can you imagine how hurt Christy would be if her grandpa made excuses why he could not come to their house for supper? The man in the Bible story was also terribly hurt. In fact, the Bible says he was angry. The man then told his servants to go out into the streets of the city and bring in the poor, the homeless, the helpless, and the crippled, “that my house may be filled.” v. 23.
The servants did as their master told them and replied, “It is done as thou hast commanded, and [still] there is room.” The man then told his servants to go back into the streets and urge others to come to his supper. Then the man said, “I say unto you, That none of those men which were [invited] shall taste of my supper.” The rich man’s reaction was very much like Christy’s reaction to her grandfather of “no more suppers!”
Boys and girls, this story from the Bible shows you and me that our sins have taken us far away from God. We must accept God’s invitation to salvation’s supper if we are to have our sins washed away. We are hopeless and lost in our sins until we do accept God’s loving invitation. We are very much like those “street people” the servants were told to bring in to the supper. We are needy and helpless and unable to do anything to get rid of our heavy load of sins. But the God of all grace and love has prepared the supper by sending His only Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. When we accept God’s invitation, we receive the forgiveness of our sins. “Be it known unto you therefore . . . that through this man [Jesus] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38).
Do not refuse God’s wonderful invitation. Certainly you do not want to be like those who refused the man’s supper invitation who shall never “taste of my supper.” Be like Christy. Say “yes” to the Lord Jesus. He stands at your heart’s door knocking. Will you accept His loving invitation?
ML-01/31/1993