Back at my desk after 10 days with the WHOLE family — first time we’ve all been together since February 2020. Fourteen of us then, seventeen of us now. I’m burnt, I’m water-logged, and my cup is full. Don’t know the last time I slept so well for so long for so many nights in a row. Grandkids all day long have a way of doing that to ya’. Enjoyed the adult time too. Eventually won a game of backgammon. And I was tutored in AI by one of my sons-in-law — I just might have to engage in that world. But while I managed to keep doing my morning readings (at night) throughout the week, a lot more difficult to find the time and energy to write. Did I mention I’m glad to be back at my desk?

This morning, I’m hovering over a story Jesus tells in Luke 14. Another of those stories Jesus tells while sitting around a table eating with a group of people. One of those people apparently looks at the feast before them, and the Teacher with them, and says, in effect, “Won’t it be great to do this one day in the kingdom of God?” Cue the story . . .

Then [Jesus] told him, “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.'”

“But without exception they all began to make excuses.”

(Luke 14:16-18a CSB)

A large banquet. Huge in scale. Plentiful in provision. A party to dwarf all other parties. A massive supper. A marvelous time. A momentous occasion. And many are invited. How’s that for a summary of the grace offered through the gospel?

But get this, without exception they all began to make excuses. One tapped out because of his pursuit of possessions, he had just bought a field and had to go and see it. (Wouldn’t he have done that before he bought it?) Another passed on the offer because of work, he had fields to plow, seed to sow, crops to harvest. And yet another decides that family is more important, so he too says no to the invitation.

And here’s the chilling part for me, these aren’t just rain checks. This isn’t a call to pass on an invitation now only to take advantage of it at some later, more convenient time. Each excuse turns out to be the refusal of a limited time offer.

“For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet.”

(Luke 14:24 CSB)

I get e-mails regularly and frequently from a company offering “a limited time offer.” And after every “last chance, offer ends tomorrow” e-mail, it’s invariably soon followed with the next “limited time offer” which looks remarkably like the last “limited time offer.” But such is not the case with this large banquet offer.

Sure, this is an invitation to all. And it’s a free offer, everything’s been provided. Those who have been invited needed only to come. But each had an excuse. Each refused. Each had something more important to do, something more cherished to invest their time in. And eventually, the limited time offer expired. Not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet.

Time ran out. Perhaps the time to respond ran out because a supple heart became a hardened heart. Perhaps the time to accept expired because a beating heart suddenly, unexpectedly stopped beating. Perhaps the time to enter the banqueting hall ran out because the Host from heaven returned and closed the doors so that those who had RSVP’d could finally sit at the table and enjoy the feast.

It’s a limited time offer. Don’t know how much time. But “Behold,” says the Scriptures, “now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Cor. 6:2b). The day to be saved. The day to engage in being saved. And we’re all invited to do so. Today!

Today if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts.

(Hebrews 4:7b CSB)

An invitation to each of us. Not just to accept the offer but to actively pursue the offer. Not to wait for the kingdom someday but to live out the kingdom today. So, let’s pull up a chair and participate. Having entered through the doors opened to all by the finished work of the cross, let’s engage in the table already set before us. Let’s stop with the excuses. Let’s stop refusing the invitation.

By His grace. For His glory.