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I shook
my head in disbelief.
This couldn't be the right place.
After all, I
couldn't possibly be welcome here.
I had been given an invitation several
times,
by several different people,
and had finally decided to see what
this place was all about.
But, this just couldn't be the right
place.
Quickly, I
glanced down at the invitation
that I clutched in my hand.
I scanned past
the words,
"Come as you are. No jacket required."
and found the
location.
Yes, I was at the right place.
I peered
through the window again
and saw a room of people
whose faces seemed to
glow with joy.
All were neatly dressed,
adorned in fine garments and
appeared strangely clean
as they dined at this exquisite
restaurant.
Ashamed, I looked down
at my own tattered and torn
clothing, covered in stains.
I was dirty, in fact, filthy.
A foul smell
seemed to consume me and I
couldn't shake the grime that clung to my
body.
As I turned
around to leave, the words from the invitation
seemed to leap
out at
me...
"Come as you are. No jacket required."
I decided to give it a
shot.
Mustering up
every bit of courage I could find,
I opened the door to this
restaurant
and walked up to a man standing behind a podium.
"Your name,
sir?" he asked me with a smile.
I mumbled my name without looking up.
I
thrust my hands deep into my pockets,
hoping to conceal their
stains.
He didn't
seem to notice the filth that
I was covered in and he continued,
"Very good,
Sir. A table is reserved in your name.
Would you like to be seated?"
I
couldn't believe what I heard!
A grin broke out on my face and I
said,
"Yes, of course!"
He led me to
a table and, sure enough,
there was a place card
with my name written on
it in a deep, dark red.
As I browsed over a menu,
I saw many delightful
items listed.
There were things
like,
"peace,"
"joy,"
"blessings,"
"confidence,"
"assurance,
"
"hope,"
"love,"
"faith,"
and
"mercy."
I realized that this was
no ordinary restaurant!
I flipped the
menu back to the front
in order to see where I was at...
"God's
Grace,"
was the name of this place!
The man
returned and said,
"I recommend the
'Special of the Day'.
With it, you are
entitled to heaping portions
of everything on this menu."
"You've got
to be kidding!"
I thought to myself.
"You mean, I can have ALL of
this!"
"What is the 'Special of the Day"
I asked with excitement ringing
in my voice.
"Salvation," was his reply.
"I'll take it,"
I practically
cried out.
Then, as
quickly as I made that statement,
the joy left my body.
A sick, painful
ache jerked through my stomach
and tears filled my eyes.
Between my sobs I
said
"Mister, look at me. I'm dirty and nasty.
I'm unclean and unworthy of
such things.
I'd love to have all of this, but, but,
I just can't afford
it.
Undaunted, the man smiled again.
"Sir, your check has already been
taken care of
by that Gentleman over there,"
he said pointing to the front
of the room.
"His Name is
Jesus."
Turning, I
saw a man
whose very presence seemed to light the room.
He was almost too
much to look at.
I found myself walking towards Him
and in a shaking voice
I whispered,
"Sir, I'll wash the dishes
or sweep the floors
or take out
the trash.
I'll do anything I can do to repay you for all of
this."
He opened His
arms and said with a smile,
"Son, all of this is yours
if you just come
unto me.
Ask me to clean you up and I will.
Ask me to take away the
stains
and it is done.
Ask me to allow you to feast at my table
and you
will eat.
Remember, the table is reserved in your name.
All you must do is
accept this gift that I offer you."
Astonished, I
fell at his feet and said,
"Please, Jesus. Please clean up my life.
Please
change me and sit me at your table
and give me this new life."
Immediately,
I heard the words,
"It is finished."
I looked
down
and white robes adorned my squeaky clean body.
Something strange and
wonderful had happened.
I felt new, like a weight had been lifted
and I
found myself seated at His table.
"The 'Special
of the Day' has been served,"
the Lord said to me.
"Salvation is yours."
We sat and
talked for a great while
and I so enjoyed the time that I spent with
Him.
He told me,
me of all people,
that He would like for me to come
back
as often as I liked
for another helping from
God's Grace.
He made
it clear that He wanted me
to spend as much time with Him as
possible.
As it drew near time for me to go back outside
into the "real
world,"
He whispered to me softly,
"And Lo, I am with you always."
And
then,
He said something to me that I will never forget.
He said...
"My
child,
do you see these empty tables throughout this room?"
"Yes, Lord. I
see them.
What do they mean?"
I replied.
"These are reserved
tables...
but the individuals whose names are on each placard
have not
accepted their invitations to dine.
Would you be so kind as to hand out these
invitations
to those who have not joined us yet?"
Jesus
asked.
"Of
course,"
I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations.
"Go ye
therefore into all nations,"
He said as I turned to leave.
I walked into
God's Grace dirty and hungry.
Stained in sin.
My righteousness as filthy
rags.
And Jesus cleaned me up.
I walked out a brand new man...
robed in
white,
His righteousness.
And
so,
I'll keep my promise to my Lord.
I'll go.
I'll spread the
Word.
I'll share the Gospel...
I'll hand out the invitations.
And I'll
start with YOU.
Have you been
to God's Grace?
There's a table reserved in your name,
and here's your
invitation...
"Come as you are.
No jacket required."
Author Unknown
Have a blessed
day!
Disclaimer
updated 6/29/12
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