A few years ago I received an important invitation - a summons for jury duty.  It wasn't fancy -- just a form letter with directions of where to go and when.  Still, it was an invitation for me and fifty others to visit the judge.  It reminded me of another invitation, one that I issued, the time I invited Carol to be my wife.

          That wasn't a fancy invitation either, but it was memorable.  We were sitting in her car and it was raining.  We had only been dating only a short time, but we both knew things were right.  So I asked her, "When would you like to get married?"  After a few moments she said, "How about Thanksgiving weekend?" -- and our plans were set.  I didn't really ask her the big question, and she didn't really answer, but we've been married almost thirteen wonderful years now.

          Can you married folks remember how you asked-or were asked-the big question?  During the past 28 years I've performed well over two hundred marriages and often find out how the question was asked.  Sometimes it's clever, like the man who took his girl to a Chinese restaurant and slipped her the question inside a fortune cookie.  Or the man who rented a tux, hired a limo, took her see to "Romeo and Juliet," and proposed during the intermission.  And sometimes it's she who asked him.

          Some invitations are casual like being asked to a Halloween party.  Some are significant such as inviting you to submit your resume for a job.  Others are permanent, such as a marriage proposal.  Sometimes we get them in the mail, and other times we hear them spoken, "Hey Pastor Bob, I've got a spare ticket to the Avs game -- want to go?"  Often it's just a hand waving us to come over to their yard for a cold drink.  To be invited is to be honored, so all invitations deserve a thoughtful response.

          The most incredible invitation you'll ever receive isn't in your mailbox.  It's in your Bible.  Read the Bible and you'll hear God inviting you.  He invited Abraham to trust Him and the Israelites to be His people.  He invited David to be king and Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem.  He invited Mary to be the mother of Jesus, and He invites you and me to follow Him so we'll be included in the great heavenly banquet for His Son.

          In your Bible you'll read one of God's favorite words -- COME.  "COME, let us reason together--though your sins are scarlet, they shall be white as snow."  "COME all you who are thirsty and drink the Living Water."  "COME to me, all you who are weary and tired, and I will give you rest."  "COME follow me and I will make you fishers of men."  "COME to the wedding banquet!"

          Our God is a God who invites.  He invites us to follow His Son.  He sends us an invitation to join Him at the great wedding feast.  He opens the door for us when He sees us coming.  The gospels are full of stories about weddings.  For a man who never married, Jesus certainly gave marriage His blessing.

          I've had a number of memorable weddings.  There was one in a snowstorm where only seven guests showed up, five teenage girls and the bride's parents, the ones she wanted to get away from.  They ended up being her witnesses!  Or the wedding by the pool where most of the flowers were found frozen in the refrigerator and the ring bearer nearly dropped the ring into the deep end.  Or the one on a lawn in a steady rain, where the awning covering the bridal party filled with water and nearly collapsed on us during the ceremony.  Or the one in a chapel so leaky that the wedding party had to keep moving around to avoid the drips.  Most weddings are long forgotten, but some are unforgettable.

          God's invitation to us is not just to a wedding or a dinner -- it's for life -- eternal life!  It's an invitation to come into His kingdom and live with Him in a wonderful permanent relationship.  God gave His only Son Jesus to be our Savior.  Now He invites us to trust Him as our Lord.  When we do, we're promised life with Him forever.  That's Good News that makes our life worth living -- and our death worth dying!

          In this text Jesus tells us about wedding preparations that weren't going well.  The master had sent out invitations but they were ignored.  People made excuses.  Some even beat up the messenger.  Have you ever wondered how Jesus felt when He told this story?  If you've ever had a personal invitation ignored, you know how He must have felt.  Most people don't outright reject Jesus -- they just ignore His invitation!

          When we give an invitation, we expect an answer.  Imagine how I might have felt when I proposed to Carol and this was our conversation:  "Carol, will you marry me?"  "Well, Bob, marriage has been in our family for years."  "Excuse me, Carol?"  "Yes, Bob, marriage has been in our family a long time.  My uncle and aunt were married, my Grandparents were married, and even my Mom and Dad got married."  "Wait, Carol -- what does this have to do with us?"  "Well,Bob, marriage is a fine institution - a wonderful idea."  "Carol, I'm not asking your opinion on marriage, I'm asking you to marry me!"

          It must sadden God when we give Him vague responses to His invitation to follow Jesus.  We study it and perhaps say, "How kind of you to invite me, God.  You know, my family has been Lutheran for several generations.  You probably even remember my Uncle Harold who was a minister.  Like I say, God, our family is very pro-religion.  Aunt Mary sang in the church choir and my Dad was an Elder.  And I usually go to church Christmas and Easter."  And God would probably say, "What are you talking about?"

          It was to such ramblings that God spoke the words of Jeremiah 7:13, "I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen to me.  I called, but you did not answer."

          What if Carol had said to me, "Your proposal is all very nice, but could it wait?  The Broncos are playing right now."  Or she might have said, "Marriage?  Well you know, we should discuss that some day.  Let's see, I've got an opening next Tuesday, -- no, make it a week from Tuesday.  Be sure to call and confirm a few days before, okay?"

          That would hurt!  Nothing stabs deeper than to give a once-in-a-lifetime, for-you-only invitation and have it ignored or neglected.  Nothing is worse, except to be stood up.  Jesus gives us all the big invitation in Revelation.  "Here I am -- I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone opens the door, I will come in and dwell with him."  Jesus invites us, not just to hear Him or to study Him or to acknowledge Him, but to receive Him -- as our Lord.  So many Christians live their whole life hearing His invitation, studying it carefully, but they never really respond.  "Many are called, but few are chosen," not because God is picky, but because so many never respond.  Have you responded?  Will it be "Yes" or "Let me think it over?"

          Isn't it incredible that God loves us enough even to invite us?  And we can choose to accept or reject His invitation.  There are so many little things in life we can't choose.  But, where we will spend our eternity....  That really BIG choice God leaves to us.  We can receive His gracious gift of eternal life by faith, or we can ignore it for other things.

          God is waiting to hear from us.  He loves us enough to send His only Son to be our Savior, and He awaits our response.  Have you really responded to God or are you just studying the invitation?  Reach out and accept His invitation.  Come to the banquet!

          About twenty years ago I remember a call I received from Elsie, a woman in my congregation who said, "Fred asked me to marry him, and we'd like to come to see you about getting married."  The next day at 2:00, Fred and Elsie came into my office with John and Ella, her neighbors.

          "So when should we set up the big day?" I asked.  "Well right now -- today!" she said.  "Why do you think we got all dressed up and brought John and Ella?  We moved our stuff together this morning, we're getting married this afternoon and we're going to a motel in Aberdeen tonight.  You're ready for us, aren't you?"  "Why, yes, of course," I said, and took them to the altar and married them on the spot.  Elsie received her invitation from Fred and knew exactly what she wanted to do.  One doesn't trifle with invitations to marry when you're 81 years old.

          One shouldn't trifle with the invitation Jesus gives us either.  We may not be 80 years old, but life is still short.  Let's pack our things and follow Him.  Don't keep Him waiting, because there's no better time.  The best time to respond is now.  Come to the banquet!  God has loved us so much that He gave us Jesus, and now He's awaiting our response.

          Which brings me back to the waiting room for jury duty.  I went before the judge and after some questioning I was excused.  I don't know why they didn't choose me, but it was interesting to sit in front of a judge for the first time in my life.

          And you know what?  It won't be the last time.  Another day will come when I sit in front of an almighty and gracious Judge.  And when it happens, I already know the outcome.  I know this because, you see, the Judge is my Heavenly Father.  "Come, follow Jesus," He says.  "Come to the Banquet!"  Amen!

Copyright © 1999 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.