4-29-2019

Good Morning All,

       Revelation 19:9; “Then the angel said to me, “Write this: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the lamb’s wedding banquet.’” He also told me, “These are God’s true words.”

     Oh to be invited to a party!  We all love parties.  We love the atmosphere, we love the conversations, we love the people and we especially love the food.  We usually enjoy the food the most because we didn’t, buy it, cook it, or have anything to do with it but eat it.

     Despite what we may think, Americans did not invent the party.  Parties go back as far as mankind does.  Our parties and festivities pale in comparison.  Often times parties would last days at a time with the host even providing sleeping quarters and a change of clothes for the guests.  Wedding parties could last up to a week.  So when the Bible makes references to parties or celebrations, the original reader had a greater understanding than we may.

    This verse is found toward the end of Revelation and everything is coming to the culmination of time.  The time when those who are faithful to God’s Word receive their eternal inheritance.  When those who suffered because of their faith now share in the great celebration; the wedding feast of God.  This is the feast described throughout Scriptures in various ways.  Isaiah spoke of fine wine and choice meats; food rich in marrow.  This is the feast which we sing of in our hymnody.  This is our eternal existence with Christ; one which is a celebration of God’s eternal benevolent rule.

    This verse can actually be read God inviting us to look forward to a greater day ahead.  They are longing for a little good news and God gives them a lot of good news.  The hearing of this good news is free and we are to come and savor it, we are to luxuriate in it.  The good news of your salvation is the greatest celebration that you can ever have and you receive it freely.

      Just like the finest wines and meats are very expensive so was the cost of your salvation.  Yet someone else paid for it and someone else gave it to you so you can enjoy it, so you can have the benefit of it.  So, we see that our salvation and the news of our salvation and the hearing of the news of our salvation are a celebration that lasts forever. 

      We no longer need to worry about struggles and the trials of this world.  These are dealt with by our Lord.  These trials can never defeat us.  God stands triumphant over any and all things that the world and the devil can throw at us.  We have reason to celebrate and to enjoy the wonderful news of our salvation of our hope.  God invites us to enjoy and to celebrate this wonderful joyous event.  Come and drink buy with no money the finest wines and milk.  You are invited to the great feast of God.  Savor the honey and the meats.  Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Dear Father, You feed us with the finest foods and drinks.  You bless us with your Spirit but above all we have the gift of salvation from your gracious hand.  For this we give you our praise and thanksgiving.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret