EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES!

But they all alike began to make excuses.  Luke 14:18

Recently I read Luke 14:16-24 and Jesus’ Parable of the Dinner.  In it a generous man invited many folks to a lavish feast.  On the evening of the dinner, he sent out his slave to tell the invitees that all was ready for them to come.  Inexplicitly, everyone invented excuses for not coming.  The first claimed that he had bought a tract of land and nowneeded to check it out.  Another replied that he had just bought five yoke of oxen (10) and now he was going to try them out.  Still another proclaimed that he had just gotten married and had to stay home with his wife.  While the gracious host did eventually have a full house to enjoy his feast, he was offended that the invited ones refused to attend, offering lame excuses.

What’s the point here?  It is simply that our gracious heavenly Father loves us all so much that He invites each one of us to His wonderful ”feast” of heaven and eternal life.  He offers forgiveness of sins, salvation and redemption (Romans 3:23) through trusting in His only Son, Jesus Christ who died for us (John 3:16).  He is inviting us to a glorious feast and not a solemn funeral as many surmise.  Why would we ever turn Him down in light of the eternal alternative (Romans 6:23)?  Sad to say, people do it all the time as few ultimately accept His invitation using one or more excuses for rejecting Him: “I’m as good as the next person!”  “I’ll take my chances!”  ”I’m too great a sinner!”  “ALL roads lead to heaven!”  “Not right now!  I have plenty of time!”

What’s your excuse for not accepting God’s invitation?   Is it worth rejecting, considering the eternal consequences?  Will I see you at that heavenly feast someday?  For you believers, let’s keep lovingly inviting and urging folks to accept God’s offer no matter what!

Bob Kulp