You’re Invited!
For a stretch of several weeks, Google kept sending me invitations. It’s simple really: they want to send me a device that listens to the television shows I watch and they promise it will only listen at certain times in the evening and only when the television is on. Why wouldn’t I accept such an invitation? Invasion of privacy aside, I am too big a fan of George Orwell’s 1984 to trust such a Big Brother-esque company like Google. That is one invitation I will always decline and, as such, Google has not sent me the listening device. This is what happens when we decline invitations: the event to which we were invited does not happen for us. I don’t get to participate in Google’s survey since I declined the invitation.
“Where am I going to spend eternity?” “Will I go to heaven when I die?” These are common questions that nearly everyone, at one time or another, has asked. I’ve heard these questions come from nonbelievers very frequently. It’s a popular belief that if you live a good life and are generally a good person, you will go to heaven when you die. The fact of the matter is, there is no Truth in that statement. The truth is, God has sent us all an invitation to live with Him in Heaven for all eternity.
“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)
There it is. You’re invited. God created everyone and God loves everyone, so of course He would want everyone to be with Him forever. But God also loves us so much that He’s given us free will to choose to take the road that leads to Heaven or not. God has made the pathway to heaven clear. Not easy, but clear.
“‘You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.’” (Matthew 7:13-14)
The road to hell is broad. It welcomes lots of new ideas and teachings and this appeals to a lot of people. The way to heaven is narrow and difficult—this road is not so appealing, but we’ve all been invited. Now, if you were invited to a party and you declined, it wouldn’t make sense for you to be mad at the host for not allowing you admittance when the party started. My wife and I were at a wedding recently and we ran into an old friend. He had missed the deadline to send in his RSVP and was essentially crashing the party. There were plenty of seats but he didn’t stay and eat because he knew that he wasn’t accounted for. You literally have your entire life to send God your RSVP, but if you decline the invitation, when the party starts and you’re not accounted for, you’re the only one to blame when there’s no seat available for you.
God has invited you to spend eternity in Heaven. He has made the way clear. Have you accepted?
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
—Redeemed
P.S. Please remember if you ever have any questions, need prayer, or would like to know how you can accept Jesus’ invitation, please contact us. We would be happy to help!
