You're invited to a banquet! Have you RSVP'd?

Hi friends!

This serves as your invitation to the most amazing banquet the world will ever see! Whoever sent this to you must really care about you to let you know about this great event.

Please read the story below to understand the purpose for this invitation.

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(Excerpt from "50 days of Heaven" by Randy Alcorn)

My friend Ruthanna Metzgar, a professional singer, was asked to sing at the wedding of a very wealthy man. The wedding reception was to be held on the top two floors of Seattle's Columbia Tower, the Northwest's tallest skyscraper. Ruthanna and her husband, Roy, were excited about attending.

At the start of the reception, the bride and groom approached a beautiful glass and brass staircase that led to the top floor. Someone ceremoniously cut a satin ribbon draped across the bottom of the stairs, and the bride and groom ascended, followed by their guests.

At the top of the stairs, outside the door to the great banquet room, the maitre d' stood holding a bound book.

"May I have your name, please?"

"I'm Ruthanna Metzgar and this is my husband, Roy."

He searched the M's. "I'm not finding it. Would you spell it, please?"

Ruthanna spelled her name slowly. After searching the book, the maitre d' looked up and said, "I'm sorry but your name isn't here."

" There must be some mistake," Ruthanna replied. "I'm the singer!"

The gentleman answered, "It doesn't matter who you are or what you did. Without your name in the book you cannot attend the banquet."

He motioned to a waiter and said, "Show these people to the elevator, please."

The Metzgars followed the waiter past beautifully decorated tables laden with shrimp, whole smoked salmon, and magnificent carved ice sculptures. Adjacent to the banquet area, an orchestra was preparing to perform, the musicians all dressed in dazzling white tuxedos.

The waiter led Ruthanna and Roy to the service elevator, ushered them in, and pressed G for the parking garage.

After driving several miles in silence, Roy reached over and put his hand on Ruthanna's arm. "Sweetheart, what happened?"

"When the invitation arrived, I was busy," Ruthanna replied. "I never bothered to RSVP. Besides, I was the singer. Surely I could go to the reception without returning the RSVP!"

Ruthanna started to weep-- not only because she had missed the most lavish banquet she'd ever been invited to, but also because she suddenly had a small taste if what it will be like someday for people as they stand before Christ and find that their names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
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Venue: Brand new street to be announced but here's a description of the grandest hotel you'll ever see!

It's a square city with gates and walls, approximately 1,400 square miles in measurement.
The wall is made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.
The foundations of the city walls are decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation is jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eight beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
The twelve gates are twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.
The great street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.

For more information, check out Revelations 21:10-27

Date: Anytime, anyday now. So, RSVP!

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Preparing for the banquet

For every American who believes he's going to Hell, there are 120 who believe they're going to Heaven. The truth, according to Jesus in Matthew 7:13-14, is that only a few find the narrow road to heaven.

Because of the "good" things we do (plus we don't ever think our actions are evil), we automatically assume that we are going to Heaven. We may be attending church, singing in the choir, helping in a soup kitchen, working for a worthwhile cost, doing our jobs excellently, being good mothers and fathers -- but all these are not enough to earn our entry to Heaven. Remember, it doesn't matter who we are or what we've done! All that will matter is if we've responded to God's invitation. Have you RSVP'd?

We forget that our sin (singular) is enough to keep us out. (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 59:2, Habakkuk 1:13)

"Nothing impure will even enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." Revelations 21:27

Because God wants each of us to make it to this banquet, He has been sending invitations upon invitations to us. Have you RSVP'd?

God is merciful and we will find Him if we seek Him with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

When I finally paid attention to God's invitation, I prayed this prayer everyday, "Lord, please make a true Christian out of me." I believe that God heard me and sent people to my life help me understand what the Bible says about "getting ready" for the banquet.

I truly believe that heartfelt prayers of seeking God will be heard and answered. Of course, when God gives us directions, we must follow.

Have you been putting off God's invitation? Now is the time to respond. RSVP now!