Miracle of Invitation

Little boys love to brag about their fathers. Four of them were busy bragging, when a father of one of the boys came near to listen. The first: “My dad knows the mayor!” The second: “My dad knows the governor!”  The third: “My dad went to the White House and saw the president.” The man, listening, wondered how the fourth lad, his son, could top all of that. He didn’t have long to wait. “That’s nothin’ ”, said his son, “my dad knows God!”

The father walked away with tears in his eyes and a silent prayer: “Lord, I pray that my son will always be able to say, ‘My dad knows God!’”

We all enjoy invitations to important events or to meet important people. Some of us have met with mayors, governors, presidents and prime ministers. I have. But I see that one thing happens to them all, just like to us who are not great but small. They die, are buried and, after awhile, are mostly forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind.

But now (try to imagine the immensity, the awesomeness of it all) here comes the Creator of the universe. Here comes God who was and is and is to come. Here comes Jesus. The Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end. The first and the last. And He comes to you with an invitation personally delivered by the Holy Spirit of God.

 At the time it arrives, you are in crisis. Your conscience, with all those wrong thoughts, words and actions, is bothering you. In fact, you feel condemned—and you know you deserve to be. Your future death doesn’t just come and go as a thought. No, the fear of death begins to stay with you—to torment you. And all the toys you thought would keep you happy, now leave you empty and  dissatisfied. And, worst of all, you feel less than a drop in the vast ocean—utterly worthless and ultimately to be forgotten. You literally feel the darkness of what the Bible calls “having no hope, and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12) And no matter how many others are around you, you feel alone. Alone!

Then comes a knock. You answer the door, but no one is there. The gentle knock persists, and finally you awaken to the fact it’s a knock at another door—the one called your heart. And there stands One who renders you awestruck. It’s your Creator—Jesus Himself. No, He doesn’t have the wrong address. And He needs no GPS. It’s really you He has in mind. You’re so shocked that you can’t speak. Instead, Jesus speaks in a voice so gentle—so tender—so loving—that you can’t stop your tears. “I love you,” says Jesus, “and I bring you an invitation from the Father and Me. It comes in three parts.

“First, I know you are filled with guilt, shame and remorse. So let’s take care of that sin problem. ‘Come now, and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’ (Isaiah 1:18)

“Now that you admit you are lost without Me and are sorry for your sins, I have a second invitation for you that’s even better. ‘Behold, I stand at the door of your heart and life, and knock: if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me’. (Revelation 3:20) That means it’s you and Me—together from now on—24/7, and then forever.

“The third part of this personal invitation comes straight from My Father. He really loves you and says He wants you to think, talk and act differently than the world. Now that you have invited Me to take control of your life, I can promise you My strength to think pure thoughts, speak clean and positive words, and develop new habits and actions. What My Father wants Me to tell you is to ‘come out from among them, and be separate…touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you and you shall be My sons and daughters!’ (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) No more old life for you. Everything is new!

“How is that,” Jesus concludes, “for a miracle invitation? I’m glad you have accepted it. Don’t forget to pass it on to others. My Father and I have much room in our Kingdom and we’re not willing that any miss out. I’m counting on you. And you can count on Me!”

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras