My friend Bill always had wonderful birthday parties. His family had a large house and enough money to plan special parties for Bill’s birthday each year. I was glad to be one of his friends!
The dinner tables at Bill’s parties were always full of such good food, and sometimes waiters in uniforms served us. Once there was a whole cooked salmon with all the bones taken out and the center filled with cheese and cream. We didn’t have such treats at my house, so I made sure I got a good serving of the salmon! But when Bill kept telling us to have a little more, we finally had to say, “No thank-you,” because we couldn’t possibly eat another bite.
After that we had games and contests, and whoever won got really expensive prizes. That’s why my friends and I looked forward all year to the invitation to Bill’s birthday party, even if he did live in a town 40 miles away.
One year after the invitation came, John, a friend who lived in the same town as I did, said, “We can all go in my car.”
“But there’s no way everyone can fit into the car,” John’s father said. But we were so determined to go to the party that a week ahead of time we crammed ourselves into the car, just to prove that we could all fit!
But as wonderful as those parties were, John, Bill and I are going to be at another supper. It will not be a birthday supper but a wedding supper, and that will be far more wonderful. We are going to be at the wedding supper of the Lamb that will take place in heaven! And we’re not going to have to cram ourselves into a car to get there! The Lord Jesus Himself is coming to take us there, and when He calls us, we’ll go as fast as you can blink your eyes. We’re sure that we are going because Jesus Himself has invited us, made us ready, and is coming to take us there.
The Lord Jesus invited us by saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). He made us ready to go by dying on the cross for our sins. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). He promised to take us there by saying, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3). John, Bill and I are going to go to this wonderful supper because we have all received the Lord Jesus as our Saviour.
You were never invited to Bill’s birthday parties, but this better invitation includes you! God wants you to come to His home so much that He tells His servants, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [make] them to come in, that My house may be filled.” Luke 14:2323And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:23). Have you answered this invitation? Are you washed from your sins and ready to go when Jesus comes to take us there?
One year at Bill’s birthday party we got to go water skiing. That was great fun for us boys! They pulled us on skis over the water behind their powerful boat, and we enjoyed spraying the water behind us. Enjoyed it, that is, until I took a tumble. I got a gash in my lip, and Bill and his family were sorry for me. But since his father was a doctor, I got help right away. However, I still have the scar from those stitches on my lip.
Will the rejoicing in heaven end up that way, with a cut and stitches and pain? No! God has promised in His Word that He “shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” Revelation 21:44And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4). Heaven is going to be better than the most wonderful party you or I have ever attended. But are you going to be there? Have you accepted God’s invitation?
Even after all the special birthday parties, the ones where I didn’t get hurt, there came a time each evening when Bill’s family said good-bye to us. As much as they welcomed us, there still came a time for us to leave.
What about heaven? Will the joy there come to an end too? No, never! The Bible says, “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:1111Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11).
If you do not accept God’s invitation to His home, then the only place that you can go when you leave this world is the lake of fire. Accept His invitation today! Then John, Bill and I will meet you there in God’s wonderful home.
ML-09/20/1992