Where is everybody?

No one showed up for the feast…………

In the news this weekend, I read about a grandfather who invited his six grandchildren to dinner. He made enough hamburgers for each of them to have two. He made plenty for everyone. Only one of the grandchildren showed up. Grandpa did say it could have been a miscommunication and they would try again. He missed his grandchildren. He wanted to be with them. He wanted to see them, spend time with them, share a meal together, reach out to them and ease his own loneliness. He was grateful for the one, but the empty seats at the table was more painful than the joy brought by the one.

I needed that story. You see, I had a party too, and very few showed up. Last weekend, my family threw our big annual birthday bash. We have 3 birthdays in a row in our family so we combine them for one big celebration. We just moved last year closer to all of our friends and church family, so we were really excited about everyone who said they were coming to the party. We bought a feast! We prepared all the food in advance that could be prepared and stocked the cooler full of drinks. We cleaned the garage for the first time in a year and cleaned the house for the first time in what seemed like a year. We cleaned till we could clean no more, mopped the floors, washed the windows, vacuumed carpets, and finished the construction project on a new bedroom. The table was prepared even for folks who have been our enemies at times.

The night before the party, the phone calls started trickling in. One person said her children were sick with the flu. Another person said she overbooked herself and couldn’t make it. And the calls continued to pour in the next day. Some were sick. Some changed their plans and broke commitments. And others just plain didn’t call or message and got the wrong date. One right after another, our feast fell apart. Only those who always showed up when we lived at the old house were the ones to show up this year as well even though we are 30 minutes farther away from those particular people. They were still loyal, still there for us.

Jesus said in Luke 14:16-18a, 21-24, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses.

                “Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the slave said, ‘Master, what you command has been done, and still there is room.’
                “And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.’”

I get it! I’ve been bitter towards this world. The news is full of every reason to cross my arms and turn my back. Because people are so thickly calloused (even Christians), I feel my own heart growing cold. The grandpa in the first story chose to consider possible reasons why his beloved grandchildren didn’t show up for the feast and he will try again. The master in Luke kept trying as well. Most days, I can hardly stand my own children’s bad attitudes toward each other. I don’t have reserves for witnessing to the lost who have every lame excuse in the book and under the sun about why they hate Jesus and Jesus lovers.

God has prepared a feast, folks!!!! He has spared no expenses! He has thought of every lavish thing beyond our comprehension to bestow his love upon us! He pulled out all the stops. He owns E-V-E-R-Y-C-R-E-A-T-E-D-T-H-I-N-G. He’s richer than Donald Trump or than Steve Jobs ever was. He MADE the soil upon which mansions are built. He has prepared a table before you in the presence of your enemies to lavish you there and show them the better choice you have made by choosing HIM. You have absolutely everything when you choose Him. Your rags here may not show it, but your time here is short. God makes longer term investments in us than we do in ourselves. You are not God. You’re not even A god. God so wants to be with you, to love on you, to reveal his glory and majesty to you, to celebrate life and friendship and companionship with you. He’s not going to bring the party to your throne on your terms. He has invited you to HIS HOUSE, to HIS feast! I know how he feels. Only a few are faithful. Only a few will come. His riches won’t run out or wear out. There is plenty for everyone.

But everyone has an excuse.