I had a party on Monday for some of my dear friends, some I’d worked with for 36 years, some only a handful of months. I wanted to honor them and do something special so we had a picnic at a nearby pavilion. It wasn’t a practical picnic — I took the good China. Gasp! Yep, I took real flatware and glasses. We even had cloth tablecloths too. Practical picnics have paper plates, plasticware and disposable tablecloths because they’re…practical, sensible.
You see, I like pretty things. It may not always seem that way because I’m also very practical and life’s practical doesn’t always lend itself to pretty. But I love flowers, and glass, and sparkle, and sometimes I just like being practically impractical.
I went early to the party to set up. Anybody remember how the wind was blowing on Monday in these here parts? As I’m trying to put these 15 foot tablecloths on the tables with gale force winds blowing, I’m sinking a little inside. I wanted everything to be just right, I wanted it to be special for my guests. Eventually, the wind died down enough to get the cloths on and the table partially set. It was pretty.
As I stood there looking at the glassware sparkling in the sun, I thought for an outdoor gig with lots of wind, it was pretty. Everything wasn’t exactly where I had planned because heavy stuff had to be strategically placed to hold it all down, but it was still pretty. As I’m looking across the tables the thought came to my mind that this is exactly what the Lord has done for each of us. He has set the most beautiful table for us, His honored guests.
He has brought out the very best of everything for us. Everything is exactly where He’s planned. There’s nothing disposable at His table, because His guests are not disposable. And to be honest, His table setting seems a little impractical to us, it doesn’t quite make sense to us. But it does to him. We think why, how, it’s not practical for someone to die in my place. But it makes perfect sense to Him.
God has brought out the best of the best, the most beautiful. The place settings of love, hope, grace, mercy, comfort, peace, and so much more. You can look at the table and see such things. But most importantly, He has provided the food and drink for us to feast on, Manna from Heaven to sustain us, and Holy Water to quench our thirsts, eternal salvation, His Son Jesus Christ.
You see, we have all been invited to this beautifully set table. A table set for us by God. Whether we come, sit and partake is completely up to us. Are we tired of trying to feed ourselves with absolutely everything this world has to offer – careers, money, relationships, running, sports, children, busyness, etc., etc. — only to be hungry for more? We cannot satisfy our hunger and quell our own thirsts. There’s only one way to do that, and it is to pull up to the beautifully set table and feast on the Lord.
Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:
“Praise the LORD!
For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Let us be glad and rejoice,
and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” Revelation 19:6-9
Will you come to the beautiful table set before you and join those who have been redeemed and eat and drink until your heart is content? Or, will we continue to chase the world and those things we think will fill us, but never do? We’ve all been invited but we all choose whether or not we will accept the invitation.