When
one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is
the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus
replied: “A
certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who
had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But
they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a
field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another
said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out.
Please excuse me.’
“Still
another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The
servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house
became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and
alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the
lame.’
“‘Sir,’
the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then
the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel
them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste
of my banquet.’”
There are pieces in our life that are incomplete, not
satisfied, and not even near to perfection. That’s why we are (or should be) constantly
searching, striving for more. Not any human can be satisfied with their level
of “goodness”. So we seek for more. Ever since sin came into the picture, we
strive to fill the empty hole left there. And we do that with a relationship
with God, and He becomes our Father and also our King.
***
I get impatient sitting or standing still for an extended
period of time. As quickly as winter break flew by, the two weeks I wasn’t
doing anything bordered on boring, doing the same think every day, not having
to think or challenge myself, and not getting any reward out of being on the
internet for hours at a time.
That’s a big reason why I’m excited for InterVarsity this
semester. I love chillin’ with da peeps every week, but God asks us to step out
of our comfort zones to so much more. Think about your life at school right
now. This can’t, it just can’t be all there is.
Jesus tells a parable about a great banquet, or an awesome
party that the master put on. The guests initially accepted, but when the time
came, they made up excuses why they couldn’t make it. It’s like they got
invited on Facebook, and after RSVPing as “Maybe Attending” they ditched at the
last minute, thinking their remorseful words and explanations would make the
host less displeased that they couldn’t make it.
Jesus isn’t trying to do anything to get us to come to His
party. He won’t promise a bouncy castle and swindle us into a party where the
food is bad, there’s nothing fun to do, and you leave hungry and dissatisfied.
No, He does tell us what we’re getting into- what the proper way is to enter
His party. He tells us to not enter in lightly. That all our affections must
mean nothing to us compared with Him. That we should expect torture, taking up
our cross. He tells us that not only we
are going to expect suffering if we do it right, but also if we just go
half-way that we don’t even belong in the manure pile!
There is no doubt in my heart anymore; God is calling our
fellowship to GO, to invite others to the party. But we just can’t be “Maybe”s
to answering His call, to doing His bidding. “Maybe if my friends go, maybe if
it doesn’t get too awkward, maybe I’ll
do it later, maybe if I have free time.” We can’t go half-way! Not even 80%!
When we say “here I am, send me!” we should expect to be sent out!
God has a calling for you. He has put you in the places you
are for a reason. No matter what year or major you are, you have an
opportunity, no, duty to bring light to the dark places: whatever that means.
Don’t be bound by structures, don’t let anyone look down on you because of your
youth, don’t let your timidity get in the way. Do the stuff God nudges you to
do. Be a “Yes” to His invitation.
