Invitation Only

Luke 14:15-24
Upon hearing Jesus' exhortations about life, a man excitedly states, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God" (vs. 15).  This man clearly supposes that he, along with others there, is one of these who will be doing so.  It causes him to erupt in prideful declaration, "Oh lucky me!"  But Jesus lovingly brings him back down to earth, putting a cork in his celebration for the time being.  He tells them a parable of a man who threw a banquet inviting many (vs. 16).  It says that at the time of the banquet they began to make excuses as to why they could not come (vs. 17).  From this we deduct that they initially accepted the invitation, evidenced by the fact that many were invited,the banquet was planned, and it was not until time to attend that excuses were made.  They received the invitation, but did not carry through with attendance.  So, the master of the banquet then draws in and invites those who are desperate for such a banquet: the lame, the poor, the blind, the ignored, the hurting, the distant, the unknown (vs. 21, 23).  The ones who "deserved" the banquet or were satisfied without such a banquet accepted the invitation, but began to make excuses on why they could not attend, evidencing that the idea of the banquet appealed more to them than the actual banquet.  Although seemingly excited about this prospect, they were easily distracted and excited about other things unrelated to the banquet, finding fulfillment and satisfaction elsewhere.  The same thing happened to the seed sown in Luke 8:11-14: initial reception but affections elsewhere.  We, along with these people in the parable, are so quick to "accept" Jesus, and get excited over eating bread in the kingdom of God.  But, as he begins to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12), and this life that we have accepted begins to take shape, we make excuses as to why we cannot endure unto attending the banquet,revealing our divided interests and heart.  Jesus warns that this life, this invitation, involves struggle, hardship, loss, and sacrifice (vs. 26-27).  So before so joyously accepting the invitation count the cost (vs. 28, 31).  Because one cannot "accept" Jesus and then not live the life that he has determined for you, a life of personal loss and death, a life that reflects the life of Jesus, not culture (John 13:15-17; I John 2:6).  Otherwise this is to accept the invitation but not attend the banquet.  It is not those who said yes to attend, but the ones who actually persevere in attending that enter the kingdom/banquet (Matthew 7:21).  This is his warning to us.  Count the cost or else you will start on this journey and then turn back, and you will suffer the loss of all things, including what you thought you had in Christ (Matthew 13:12).  He tells them that they are either all in or all out, no in between or excuses, no matter how "innocent" they may be, an excuse is not acceptable (vs. 33).  We cannot simply say we are saved by grace and I have accepted Jesus and prayed and asked him into my heart, then direct our affections towards other things, thereby making excuses.  Otherwise we are the same as this man who is rebuked by Jesus, those who made excuses as to why they could not attend, and the disobedient in Matthew 21:28-32.  We all have the right answers and proper understanding, but do we have the life that proves it?  Does our life conform to that of Jesus, revealing true salvation, or of one who simply accepted an invitation?  To accept an invitation but not walk in his ways is not salvation but deception (vs. 24).  Are your interests divided?  Have we made excuses?  Does he have all of us?  Do we realize our situation like the desperate who attended the banquet, or, like those who made excuses, have we forgotten our current condition (Revelation 3:17)?  Have we just accepted some invitation to a future, distant banquet?