Tag Archives: Invitation

The Invitation (Part 2) – Is Your Name on the List?

21 Tuesday Jul 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

ID-10088842In an earlier blog post entitled ‘The Invitation – Will You Accept It?’, the concept of accepting the open invitation that God offers through Jesus Christ was examined. The example of an invitation that is sent to selected individuals was highlighted to point out that God invites every person to accept His invitation of salvation through Christ. However, with every invitation and acceptance of the invite there is then the addition of a person’s name to a guest list.

A guest list is used to confirm that an individual has indeed been invited and accepted the invitation.  The person’s signature or name on the list is used to identify the individual and or accompanying guests with the event and those who are the honorees of the event. Without your name showing as listed, then you are unable to gain entry into the event or participate.  So, in the case of any social event that requires an invitation, it is usually best to ensure that your name is added to the list.

Spiritually speaking, the process is the same when it comes to receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. The first part of the process involves an invitation that is sent unto all of humanity.  The second part of the process involves the addition of each individual’s name once Christ’s sacrifice has been accepted.  In the book of Revelation Chapter 21, there is a reference to what is called, ‘The Lamb’s Book of Life’.  Verse 27 of this chapter says:

(ESV) “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” 

The Apostle John is the writer of the book of Revelation, and it is important to note that the ‘it’ that John refers to is that of ‘The New Jerusalem.’  What is ‘The New Jerusalem’? ‘The New Jerusalem’ will be the manifestation of God’s Kingdom on Earth.  It will be an Earth that is completely remade, and it will be purged from the sin that currently exists today. The Apostle John makes it clear in verse 27 that anyone whose name is not written in The Lamb’s Book of Life, shall not enter into ‘The New Jerusalem.’

In Chapter 21, the Apostle John is shown a vision of what ‘The New Jerusalem’ or ‘The New Earth’ will look like. Seven angels show John the images of The New Earth in verses 9-25. Nevertheless, it is important to note that according to 2 Peter 3:10, the Earth in its current condition will be destroyed by fire. This will occur after the Earth as we know it has ceased. It is only at that point that ‘The New Jerusalem’ will be established. However, before all of that occurs, there is a period of time in which anyone who desires can be saved through Jesus Christ.

As a side note, it is necessary to point out that the book of Revelation is essentially a book full of prophecy.  It is one of the main books of the Bible which uses imagery concerning The End Times and what will take place when the end of the Earth as we know it shall come. Throughout this book, the Apostle John records symbolic visions which relate to where we are today, and what will occur in the future.

‘The Lamb’s Book of Life’ or as other verses of scripture use the phrase, ‘The Book of the Living’, is the book in which the name of every person who receives salvation through Jesus Christ will be added. ‘The Book of Life’ is mentioned in various scriptures from Philippians 4:3, to Revelation 20:15, and even Psalm 69:28.  It is clear that whenever a person receives salvation, their name is recorded as a way to confirm their entrance into our resting place in God’s presence.

However, those whose names are not recorded are literally on the outside looking in. Revelation 20:15 says it this way:

(ESV) “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

In Revelation Chapter 20, the Apostle John is seeing a different vision than in Chapter 21.  In this chapter, he recounts what will occur after satan is finally defeated, and those who have rejected Christ receiving judgment. Based on verse 15, it is clear that those who chose to reject God openly will suffer the punishment of being thrown into the lake of fire.  The lake of fire is the eternal punishment designated for satan and his followers.  So, if anyone adamantly rejects Jesus Christ and leaves this natural life in that condition, their name will not be recorded in The Book of Life.

Having your name recorded in The Book of Life, secures you eternally because it allows you to have access to the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal rest. There will be many who will be unaccounted for, and yet at the end of their lives they will come to the point of wanting to receive Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior.  However, at the point of judgment, it will be too late.

The opportunity to receive Jesus Christ while you are alive is God’s gift of time to all of us. Many will spend their lives wasting away and serving their sinful nature only to find that it profits nothing. A life that is lived for oneself is a life that is built upon a foundation that is unstable. God desires that every name be added to The Book of Life. However, He knows that there will be many who will reject His gift of love and salvation.

Just as an invitation is sent to a respected and chosen guest, there is a reciprocal action that the invited must take.  To participate in the event, the invited must accept the invitation to have their name added to the guest list. Failure to do so will result in a missed opportunity of experiencing what would potentially be a wondrous event. Many are traveling down the road of indifference or a blatant refusal of such an esteemed invitation.

How great is it to know that you and I have been invited  by the creator of the universe?  God the almighty wants to have a relationship with you through Christ, and He wishes that you spend eternity in His presence.  However, the choice is yours.  Will you accept this invitation and have your name added to The Lamb’s Book of Life? Accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the pardon of your sins, and allow God to escort you into His glorious Kingdom.

The Invitation – Will You Accept It?

29 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

ID-10023653If you have ever been invited to a special event, it is likely you would have received an invitation either by email or by mail. Invitations are designed to formally invite each guest or person that is enlisted. This is so they can participate in an event that is deemed to be celebratory or of special recognition to the honoree/s. Each person who is invited is in some way affiliated with whoever is the focal point of the ceremony or gathering.  One can surmise that the guest has a relationship or at least know of those who they were invited by. As a guest, one can expect to be given special treatment and acceptance which is a by-product of the affiliation with the honoree/s.  In most cases, however, invitations that are sent, are usually exclusive rather than inclusive of all.

The large difference between an event that is exclusive to the public, and the invitation that God offers through Jesus Christ, is that God’s invitation is inclusive to all.  One of the most quoted and most familiar passages of scripture can be found in John 3:16.  It says:

(NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The key word in this verse of scripture is “whoever” or as some translations say, “whosoever”. This scripture has become a testament and the crux of the love that God has shown to all of humanity.  It highlights the decision that God made on behalf of humanity to send Jesus Christ, His one and only son to die for the Earth’s sins. As a result of Christ’s death on the cross, humanity has an opportunity to receive salvation.  As this scripture says, “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” That means, regardless of who you are, and what you have done in your past – if you trust in Jesus Christ and believe He was raised from the dead, then salvation is available to you.

The great thing about God is, He always provides an alternative for humanity. If you look at the world around you, there is a constant decay that has and continues to occur before our eyes. The rapid decadence that is on display is a result of the sinfulness that has run rampant. However, the alternative is a life that is lived through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. God made a way for humanity to escape His wrath and to escape Hell.

The truth is, all of us deserve to be destroyed, because of our sinful nature. In Psalm 51:5, the psalmist David says that he was a sinner at birth, which also applies to each human being.  It is because of the sin that Adam & Eve committed in the Garden of Eden, that our original destiny was one of destruction and sinfulness.  However, the alternative to that plan was Jesus Christ who is the giver of life.

In 2 Peter 3:9 it says, (NIV) “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  This scripture essentially means that throughout all of the sins that we commit, God shows us patience. This can be understood as God’s grace unto us which God extends to every person.  The grace of God is something that many have been covered by, even when we deserved the worst of what should have happened to us.

The above scripture also makes it clear, that God does not desire to see humanity perish but to come to repentance.  That is His desire for you and I. When we are unrepentant in our sin, then the penalty is death both spiritually and physically as it says in Romans 6:23. All of the sinfulness that is now being promoted within our society, it has a cost. The legalization of homosexuals being able to marry in 21 countries is not only an abomination to God’s order, but it is a sin.  This sin among other sins has a high price to pay. However, God does not want humanity to pay for its sin through destruction.

Jesus Christ died for you and I so that we would not have to pay the price that we owe. All of the lawlessness that has become “the law” only puts our global society into more confusion.  However, God wants us to repent as a human race.  By repenting, we are acknowledging that we have sinned and that we are ready to surrender our lives unto God through Jesus Christ.  While God’s grace is available to all, the thing about His grace is, that it eventually runs out. While God is patient with us, once He has given us ample time to repent and we do not, the consequences begin to take effect.

In Romans 6: 1-4 the Apostle Paul says:

(NIV) “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

In this passage, the Apostle Paul begins by asking a question of whether or not we should continue sinning so that grace may abound. His answer is an emphatic, no. Instead, Paul encourages us not to continue in sin but to remember that because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, we too have an opportunity to have a new life. It is this invitation to a brand new life, that God offers to every person through Jesus Christ.

What the world offers to us, is the alternative to a life of destruction.  Much of the temptations and pressures to conform to this world system, result in a lower quality of life, in addition to an eternity that is spent in separation from God’s presence.  However, the way out is by accepting the invitation that Jesus offers through His sacrifice.  Just like any invitation, you have the opportunity to accept or decline. It is based on your free-will.  God will not force you to love Him or accept His grace and mercy, but rather He wants you and I to choose Him.  Will you accept God’s invitation? He is waiting for you so that you can have life and life abundantly.