A Place At His Table

We know that we have to do two things in this life. We have to live and we have to die. Some would add, as a joke, that you also have to pay taxes. But, in reality, the in-between is up to God and us.

And, how we make decisions about what we do between the time that we are given life and the time that it ends is incredibly important.

Jesus wanted us to know that being a Christian has a benefit that you will not see on this side of glory; but, it is a real benefit, a real blessing, that you will receive on the other side of glory.

Call it a reservation, a place at a table in the most exclusive of restaurants that you could ever imagine.

You see, beloved, Jesus wants you to be where He is, not as an observer of what He is doing, but as a friend, as a brother, as a sister. And, when you go to where He is, He wants you to have a meal with Him, a place at His table.

The last meal that He had on this side of glory was with a similar group of friends. It was the Last Supper. That meal was not in Jesus' house. It was in a guest house. That meal was not at His table. It was at a table at the guest house. That meal was not in His kingdom. It was a kingdom that He was passing through.

His apostles, His friends, were with Him. They had the Passover meal like many other Passover meals; but, this meal would be Jesus' last, at least on this side of glory.

But, it would not be the last meal for eternity because Jesus told His apostles, His friends, that they had a reservation for another meal, at some point in the future. And, this meal would be at His own table, not a guest table; in His house, not a guest house; and in His kingdom, not another kingdom.

In Luke 22:28-30, Jesus said, "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom".

Beloved, everyone who is willing to endure all that we have to go through on this side of glory for the cause of Christ are those who stand with and for Jesus. Don't you want to try?

And, the kingdom offered to the apostles is the same kingdom offered to us, a place much different from this earth that we currently inhabit. Don't you want to go?

And, in the kingdom, you will not have to invite Jesus to come into your heart to eat with you. No, He has a place at His table reserved for you in His kingdom because you have chosen to follow Him. Don't you want to eat?

As a bride and a groom answer in the affirmative when exchanging their wedding vows, we should answer all the questions by saying, "I do."

Beloved, to every call that God places on your life, answer, "I do." Why? Because you are simply reserving for your seat at His table, a very exclusive table in a very exclusive place for a very exclusive meal.

Everyone will not eat and everyone will not go and everyone will not sit. Why? Because they are not connected.

As long as you stay connected to Him, your place is secure in His kingdom, in His house, and at His table. You have a place at His table.

I hope and pray that as the journey through COVID-19 persists that you are staying connected with Jesus and the entirety of the Holy Trinity including our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit as well as with the church family, local and universal.

We are here to help and support each other and will be doing so at Noonday Prayer. Stay connected as we all prepare for a place at His table.

And, remember, God loves you and I love you too!

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain

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